Every high school in the county held graduation ceremonies last night. It's still not safe to do them indoors, so all of them were held outside on the football field at 7:30 p.m.
Photographers from the paper fanned out and documented the event. My assignment was Dora High School, which is the school where I graduated in May of 1968.
I took the picture below at 7:15 p.m. A moment after I took this picture, a bolt of lightning as wide as an interstate slammed down three miles north of where I stood. I know this because 20 seconds after the thunder rolled, I got a notification from the weather app on my phone telling me.
A voice came over the loudspeaker, saying the ceremony would be delayed until the storm passed.
As it turns out, the clouds finally drifted off to the east and let the seniors have their moment. I was happy for them.
The coronavirus cheated these kids out of a magical time in their lives. There is no way to recapture it. The valedictorian's speech shared remarkable insight. The gist - things happen. Life goes on.
I wish the best for these kids. They deserve a few breaks. I glad the storm clouds agreed.
Photographers from the paper fanned out and documented the event. My assignment was Dora High School, which is the school where I graduated in May of 1968.
I took the picture below at 7:15 p.m. A moment after I took this picture, a bolt of lightning as wide as an interstate slammed down three miles north of where I stood. I know this because 20 seconds after the thunder rolled, I got a notification from the weather app on my phone telling me.
A voice came over the loudspeaker, saying the ceremony would be delayed until the storm passed.
As it turns out, the clouds finally drifted off to the east and let the seniors have their moment. I was happy for them.
The coronavirus cheated these kids out of a magical time in their lives. There is no way to recapture it. The valedictorian's speech shared remarkable insight. The gist - things happen. Life goes on.
I wish the best for these kids. They deserve a few breaks. I glad the storm clouds agreed.
I am thrilled that one of the clouds over their young lives could be avoided.
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ReplyDeleteWhat a sky! And nature's pyrotechnics to add to the evening.
ReplyDeleteSurely this will be somethimg to remember... and as you mentioned, things happen and life goes on. It's not the end of the world, it just seems like it.
Alphie
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ReplyDeleteAnd have I ever mentioned how I loathe Google when it posts repeated comments? Ah well, one of life's little irritations. Not the end of the world, it just seems like it....
ReplyDeleteAlphie
Only our private schools stepped out to do graduation ceremonies on the fields. Our public schools are having parades and drive ups get their diplomas. So sad.
ReplyDeleteLisa
Here our graduates didn't get the chance at all. Even outside with the chance of rain. They were all cancelled. But one way or the other the kids were celebrated just on their own.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous shot! That bolt of lightening was Mother Nature saying: Congrats y'all!!! I'm so glad they had their ceremony. Not sure about around here. My Grandson had a walk alone one at his high school. No visitors other than parents and it was one at a time. So weird but it will be a time in history that they can relate to their families down the road. All will be well eventually. Good luck to all those seniors in your area!
ReplyDeleteMy graduation was uneventful to the point of being almost boring. I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. I am sorry for all those who worked hard to get there and are not able to have someone hand them their diplomas in front of friends and family.
ReplyDeleteWe don't do graduation type things here in Australia but I know in the USA it is
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