Although graduation ceremonies have come and gone in most areas, I'm still thinking about it and the natural course of thought; the after-graduation festivities. After all the photos, the cap tossing and teary good-byes and good-lucks from parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, "the real reason", for it all, will finally be upon this years graduates, THE GRADUATION PARTY.

I'm not sure what kids these days do for a graduation party, but I know anything they do will probably be a lot more exciting than what I did. I remember there being several parties happening that night and after much consideration, I decided not to go to any. I'd never been popular in high school, so attending a party put on by the popular kids wasn't a place I wanted to be. I wasn't a hard-core either, so I couldn't imagine myself sitting in a room shrouded in sweet-smelling smoke. Instead, my after-graduation party was spent with my closest friends dealing and laying cards on a scarred dining room table in an endless game of poker. TOS - The Mountain of Pure Rock blasted our favorite classics all night, rum and coke (yes we were underage, but it was graduation night) was as endless as the poker game. And the amount of laughter and fun we had, qualified that night as a great graduation party for us. It was a great way to end four years of purgatory. It was a relief to be done with it.

High school, for me, was like time wasted in a waiting room. Flipping through magazines, turning the page in order to find a more interesting article; reading the lines, only to have them eventually blur into nonsensical and repetitive paragraphs. Constantly looking up from the magazine to check the time, wondering how much longer this is all going to take. Then being filled with anticipation when the name-caller comes into the room and you wait to hear your name...and then the disappointment when someone else is called. But, then when your name finally is called, tossing aside the magazine and eagerly rushing to meet whatever's on the other side of the wall.

I was thrilled to leave the waiting room of high school and see what was on the other side of those brick walls. I didn't have any idea of where I was going or what I was going to do, but at that age who does? It's been twenty-six years since I graduated and it seems impossible that it's been that many years since that almighty certificate was placed in my outstretched hand by then principal, Mr. Perry.

I think about this year's graduates, including my stepdaughter, and think about what lies ahead for her and all of them. So many of them are asked what they're going to do with their lives and are expected to have an answer. I wonder, why should they know that right now? Why should any teen have to know what they're going to do with the rest of their lives when they're only eighteen years old? I say, forget about that right now, go enjoy life for a little while! There's plenty of time to be an adult. Go be a princess at Disney World, hack your way through the trails on a backpacking trip along the Appalachian Trail and definitely take the time to see the sunrise from the top of a mountain.

I'd like to say I accomplished my lofty teenage goal of becoming rich and famous, but my talents were, and still are, very limited, and definitely not money makers. So, I did like many other young women did, fell in love, got married and had a child. But, you know, becoming a mother was the best thing I could ever have done. And in my children's eyes, I am something special. And really, who else is there to impress?

I recently spent a few hours in a store and although I wasn't shopping for me, I did come across some things that made me wish I'd had a few extra bucks to spend. Things that would have been the perfect item to say all the things I'd like to say to people, but never have the guts to.

Along one wall of this store were some hanging wooden signs with clever sayings printed on each of them. I enjoyed all of them and would've loved to place them in strategic places in my life. For example:

- Let me drop everything and work on your problem: this would go to my kids when I'm right in the middle of something, like painting a wall, and they decide they have something way more important for me to take care of...immediately.

- I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every second of it: which I do, keeps everyone on their toes when they don't what I'm going to do at any given moment.

- My door is always open, so feel free to leave: if I could only say that to the people who want my opinion or advice.

- Talk is cheap, because supply exceeds demand: OMG, how many people yammer on and on without saying a single thing? (myself excluded, of course).

- Happy Wife, Happy Life: need I say anything else?

- There are three types of people: those who get it and those who don't: I'd like to throw this one at the person who never seems to 'get' it and I have to explain it over and over.

- Buy one for the price of two and get the second one free: applies to the same person as the above.

- Beer- helping ugly people to find love since 1859: this one goes to barflies who think a great come-on is, "Hey baby, what's your sign?"

-If you're one in a million, there are six thousand just like you: for the person who truly believes what he says is always right.

- I feel so miserable without you, it's almost like you're here: In-laws?

- Someone who thinks logically provides a nice contrast to the real world: doesn't everyone have a Spock wannabe in their lives?

- Experience is a wonderful thing, it enables us to recognize a mistake when we make it again: except, of course, that person who never makes a mistake.

- There's too much blood in my caffeine system: every single working person in the entire U.S.A.

- Don't make me get my flying monkeys: this one isn't for anyone really, it just made me smile.

So, from now on I'm keeping a pocketful of flashcards with clever sayings on them and showing the proper response to the people who deserve 'em.

The background pic is one of my favorite places here in Maine. If you ever get the opportunity to travel this far north, definitely put Cadillac Mountain in Bar Harbor (or BahHahbah, as many Mainers say) as one of your top places to visit.

At 1,532 feet, Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park is the highest point along the North Atlantic seaboard and is the first place to view sunrise in the United States from October 7 through March 6.

Although the village of Bar Harbor is a real tourist trap during the summer months, the mountain itself and its beauty will make up for the mobs of people.

I've added my next chapter to

CollisionCourse

so come check it out!

I'm now officially a four-eyes, something I never imagined I'd be. When I was in high school I never believed the day would come when I would be squinting to read road signs or not be able to watch the television without the characters onscreen having a fuzzy outline around them. I just always assumed I'd have great eyesight. We're such boneheads when we're young.

I really didn't think I was as bad as all that until one weekend I decided to go to New Hampshire to visit my best friend Sue. I was fine until I crossed the state line, then it was like I'd entered another time zone. A zone in which none of the signs were readable and everything seemed blurry and out of focus. I was unable to read any of the road signs until I was right on top of them, and by then it was too late. I'd missed my turnoff. I was confused as to why I could see fine in Maine and not well at all in the next state. Geez...I answered myself, maybe it's because you don't have to read or see that well in Maine because you've lived there your entire life and know your way around. It was kind of scary, though. How was I going to find my way to my friend's house if I couldn't read the road signs?

I flipped open my cell and called Sue. She'd been expecting my call, said she would've been disappointed if I hadn't gotten lost (she knows me too well). She got me back on track and I thought I was doing really well, until I realized I'd gone further than the mile I was only supposed to go, to get to my next turn. I pushed Sue's number again, "how'd you get way down there? That's heading towards Manchester, the complete opposite of where you're supposed to be going."

I explained my lack of clear-eyed vision to her.

Sue was annoyed, "whaddya mean you can't read the signs? They're like ten feet tall with bright white letters on 'em. How could you NOT read them?"

"I don't know. Just tell me how to get turned around, so I can get to your house."

I followed her directions and thought I was on my way, until I veered right into an intersection rather than left. Sue was more than annoyed when I called her yet again. "Are you kidding me? Seriously, you can't read the signs?"

"Not until I'm right on top of them."

"Are you ****** (insert swear word of your own choosing) crazy? What are you doing driving when can't even see! I could just strangle you!"

"I hope you don't, we've got a lot of catching up to do and it'll be tough for me to do that with your hands around my neck."

Sue's scolding and my own realization of how poor my eyesight had become was what prompted me into going for my eye exam. The exam proved that I couldn't see at a distance and that I definitely needed glasses.

It's weird though, most people see glasses as a sign of their 'oldness' but to be honest, I was just relieved to be able to see clearly again. It's pretty hard to know where your going if you can't read the signs.
(c)djc2008



CollisionCourse

Check out my new blog with my novel-in-progress!
Every week I'll be posting another chapter (as long as there's interest). Tell me what you think...

Hi All!

I started a new blog..my work-in-progress novel.

CollisionCourse

And here's hoping you'll take a minute to check it out. This book was something I started many years ago, but never quite finished the way I wanted, so I'm now revisiting and revising it. There may be some of you who recognize the characters, but the point of view has shifted and been changed.

Be sure to leave your comments on what seems to work and what doesn't.