Graduation/Father's Day

This is my 3rd attempt to enter an entry since Friday..  I'm feeling a little ill (bad watermelon was consumed last night) so I'm feeling a little drained.  After writing an entry 3 times, it kind of loses it's "spark" if you know what I mean.. 

Graduation Day went well, and it proved to be exhausting.  Andrew's graduation was almost a few hours long, and my nephew's was another two hours long, so I got four hours worth.

Remember graduation day, in that movie, The Bee Movie?  If you have seen that movie, you will understand why I say, I wished I was a bee on Thursday. 

Don't get me wrong, I loved seeing Andrew and my nephew Brett go across the stage and get their diplomas, but, some of the speeches and speakers at both of the graduations were so tiresome to listen to.  There were a few good speakers, and a few student speeches that I was quite impressed by, but overall, the faculty and teacher speeches were almost torture to listen to while sitting on hard chairs, and under a hot summer sun.  Rich took the kids home after Andrew's graduation, and I took my mom to my nephew's.  Thank God I was able to sit next to my brother for that one.  We were both so tired, and we were able to crack a few jokes, and the people sitting around us welcomed it.  We could tell from their giggles, and smiles-yeah, when we Costa people around, it's never a dull moment.  Even my mother started laughing hysterically, and I sincerely doubt she knew why.  The guy next her, nudged her and asked playfully, to let him on the joke.  This just made my mom laugh more.  No, we didn't cause a disturbance, but then my nephew went on stage and "scooted" down on the stage to get his diploma, which caused a big commotion of laughter.  We were so far back we couldn't see it, but how do I describe it...it's a move you make like a snake on the floor..  I don't know how to describe it sorry...

Andrew on his way to get in line to get his diploma.  Why he won't look at me for the picture, I do not know! 

Andrew (the boy in black) receiving his diploma---his friend, Gabe on the far right is taking a picture with the principal.  I don't know who the red headed kid is on the corner.  He didn't look at me either.

After getting his diploma..  There was a professsional photographer there at the ceremony, and he is actually smiling in those pictures.  I hope to get a few of those, because the brat refused to take a decent picture. 

Andrew and his friend Gabe holding their certificates of completion from the 8th grade.  Immediately after graduation, the kids went out across the street into the city hall building.  Lizzy went looking for him, only to find him surrounded by a crowd of girls.  I only had a few minutes until I had to leave for the next graduation.  This picture came alright at least. 

My brother, the proud papa, and my nephew, Brett.

Me and my nephew.  Yes, I had to wait until the girls left to take this one.  He is one handsome dude. 

Friday, of course there was no school, but Andrew went along for the ride to spend the morning at his grandma's house anyway.  Of course he and Nicholas were fast asleep, and as we approached the street near his middle school, I nudged him and told him, "Hey, Andrew wake up, we are almost at your school.."  Andrew jumped up from his sleep, and for a moment there he found himself looking for his backpack, when he finally realized that I was trying to trick him.  He was not amused. 

It doesn't seem like long ago, when I would take that same road to school.  My father would take me to the same school, every morning, down the famous, Kirby Street.  Each time we passed that street, my father would tease me and say, "Hey, Julie, are you ready to go to school?  Ms. Swindell is waiting for you..."  Ms. Swindell was the attendance clerk.  I hated that woman.  I'm sure she was a nice woman, but if you were late for school as much as I was, anyone would find cause to hate her.  I was not amused when my father would bring up that street or that lady's name, but I would do anything right now to hear him say it again.  I miss him. 

Happy Father's Day to all of you dads out there!

I hope all of you spoil your dads today---the gifts don't really matter; just spend time with them for the ones like me, that can't be with them.  Create good memories, because sometimes, that is all we are left with later. 

Sept. 88-My parents with Lizzy, home from the hospital.