Home again

Miss me?

The graduation was amazing. Background: my sister has three kids – Tiffany (9th grade), April (happy graduate), and Ryan, (age 20). Ryan is a private in the US Army and has been stationed in South Korea for a year. It was hoped that he could return home on his first leave for his sister’s graduation, but the timing didn’t work.

At least that’s what we told his sister.

April graduated from Hannibal High School, a small, rural school. She had 80 kids in her class. On Friday night we all packed ourselves into the auditorium and sat through the speeches and awards which proceeded the main event. Finally, it was time to hand out the diplomas. Each graduate walked across the stage when her or his name was called. Kids with large families or kids who had driven their family crazy drew especially enthusiastic round of applause. The principal gave out most of the diplomas, with two exceptions: kids whose parents were school board members. They received their diplomas from their parents, which was nice.

April’s last name begins with an ‘S’ so we had to wait until almost the end. Finally, they called her name. My heart swelled. And then the announcer said, “April will be receiving her diploma from Private First Class Ryan Stevens, a 2003 Hannibal High School graduate, currently serving with….” The rest of his words were lost in the roar from the crowd. Ryan stepped out from the wings wearing his dress uniform. The place went nuts.

April froze. She stared at her brother, not sure what she was seeing. The crowd was on its feet, whistling and clapping, shouting. Ryan stood at attention. Finally the person behind April told her to move. She walked slowly across the stage. Her brother opened his arms and gave her a hug (and her diploma) and then it got really loud. It was wonderful. Many, many tears.

There were graduation parties and family get-togethers, and we worked on the house, too. BH is working very hard on the office he is making for me. I move up there in 32 days, so the clock is ticking.

Did any of you guys got to ALA (annual American Library Association convention)? If so, do tell.

57 Replies to “Home again”

  1. yep, missed you!

    I got all teary-eyed reading about April’s graduation and her brother showing up! Oh! That must have been wonderful! Thanks for sharing! I love a happy story! 🙂

    welcome back!

  2. yep, missed you!

    I got all teary-eyed reading about April’s graduation and her brother showing up! Oh! That must have been wonderful! Thanks for sharing! I love a happy story! 🙂

    welcome back!

  3. yep, missed you!

    I got all teary-eyed reading about April’s graduation and her brother showing up! Oh! That must have been wonderful! Thanks for sharing! I love a happy story! 🙂

    welcome back!

  4. from: d_michiko_f

    I got all teary-eyed reading about April’s graduation and her brother showing up! Oh! That must have been wonderful! Thanks for sharing! I love a happy story! 🙂

    Me too! What a wonderful story. I’m jealous.

  5. from: d_michiko_f

    I got all teary-eyed reading about April’s graduation and her brother showing up! Oh! That must have been wonderful! Thanks for sharing! I love a happy story! 🙂

    Me too! What a wonderful story. I’m jealous.

  6. from: d_michiko_f

    I got all teary-eyed reading about April’s graduation and her brother showing up! Oh! That must have been wonderful! Thanks for sharing! I love a happy story! 🙂

    Me too! What a wonderful story. I’m jealous.

  7. Aw. I just cried a bit. That’s so touching. Lucky girl. That’s the sort of thing you read about, but never really happens. Aww. I’m all warm and fuzzy now.

    =)

  8. Aw. I just cried a bit. That’s so touching. Lucky girl. That’s the sort of thing you read about, but never really happens. Aww. I’m all warm and fuzzy now.

    =)

  9. Aw. I just cried a bit. That’s so touching. Lucky girl. That’s the sort of thing you read about, but never really happens. Aww. I’m all warm and fuzzy now.

    =)

  10. Awww

    That’s such an awesome story, about April’s graduation. i would have cried. What a special moment. Thanks for sharing!
    Caitlin

  11. Awww

    That’s such an awesome story, about April’s graduation. i would have cried. What a special moment. Thanks for sharing!
    Caitlin

  12. Awww

    That’s such an awesome story, about April’s graduation. i would have cried. What a special moment. Thanks for sharing!
    Caitlin

  13. Yep, I missed ya! That was such a great story. I bet April was excited and shocked.

    I read Prom last week, took me two days. It was a great book. The characters were different than what you usually have but I liked them all. Reading Fever 1793 at the moment, Im enjoying it. Ive always kinda liked history.

    Glad your back. Have a good day!

  14. Yep, I missed ya! That was such a great story. I bet April was excited and shocked.

    I read Prom last week, took me two days. It was a great book. The characters were different than what you usually have but I liked them all. Reading Fever 1793 at the moment, Im enjoying it. Ive always kinda liked history.

    Glad your back. Have a good day!

  15. Yep, I missed ya! That was such a great story. I bet April was excited and shocked.

    I read Prom last week, took me two days. It was a great book. The characters were different than what you usually have but I liked them all. Reading Fever 1793 at the moment, Im enjoying it. Ive always kinda liked history.

    Glad your back. Have a good day!

  16. Went to ALA: Chicago was very beautiful. I had had never been there before and everyone told me it was lovely, but I was unprepared for how nice it was. ALA was huge, as usual, and in many ways was the same as it always is: everyone talking, gossiping, signing, and stealing ARCs. I was only there for 28 hours, so I got a concentrated dose, but even with being there that short a time, I needed to sleeeeeeep for hours when I got home.

    Congrats on all the graduations!

  17. Went to ALA: Chicago was very beautiful. I had had never been there before and everyone told me it was lovely, but I was unprepared for how nice it was. ALA was huge, as usual, and in many ways was the same as it always is: everyone talking, gossiping, signing, and stealing ARCs. I was only there for 28 hours, so I got a concentrated dose, but even with being there that short a time, I needed to sleeeeeeep for hours when I got home.

    Congrats on all the graduations!

  18. Went to ALA: Chicago was very beautiful. I had had never been there before and everyone told me it was lovely, but I was unprepared for how nice it was. ALA was huge, as usual, and in many ways was the same as it always is: everyone talking, gossiping, signing, and stealing ARCs. I was only there for 28 hours, so I got a concentrated dose, but even with being there that short a time, I needed to sleeeeeeep for hours when I got home.

    Congrats on all the graduations!

  19. 28 hours?? That’s insane.

    I like Chicago, too. It’s incredibly clean, for a big city. I’d love to visit it for fun some day.

    Sleep well!

  20. 28 hours?? That’s insane.

    I like Chicago, too. It’s incredibly clean, for a big city. I’d love to visit it for fun some day.

    Sleep well!

  21. 28 hours?? That’s insane.

    I like Chicago, too. It’s incredibly clean, for a big city. I’d love to visit it for fun some day.

    Sleep well!

  22. hey

    hey. i did miss you. i’m glad you’re back:-). and i’m glad you had a good time at the graduation. that’s really nice that april’s brother was there and gave her her diploma. i almost cried when i read that. oh by the way, i did not go to ALA. what is it, if you don’t mind my asking?
    -ashley 🙂

  23. hey

    hey. i did miss you. i’m glad you’re back:-). and i’m glad you had a good time at the graduation. that’s really nice that april’s brother was there and gave her her diploma. i almost cried when i read that. oh by the way, i did not go to ALA. what is it, if you don’t mind my asking?
    -ashley 🙂

  24. hey

    hey. i did miss you. i’m glad you’re back:-). and i’m glad you had a good time at the graduation. that’s really nice that april’s brother was there and gave her her diploma. i almost cried when i read that. oh by the way, i did not go to ALA. what is it, if you don’t mind my asking?
    -ashley 🙂

  25. Re: hey

    ALA is the American Library Association – all the wonderful librarians in the country in the same place at the same time.

  26. Re: hey

    ALA is the American Library Association – all the wonderful librarians in the country in the same place at the same time.

  27. Re: hey

    ALA is the American Library Association – all the wonderful librarians in the country in the same place at the same time.

  28. Unrelated Question

    This is completely unrelated and I’m sure you get it all the time, but which of you books is your favorite? So far, Speak is mine but I’m still reading so…
    And welcome back! It’s great you had such a fabulous time!

  29. Unrelated Question

    This is completely unrelated and I’m sure you get it all the time, but which of you books is your favorite? So far, Speak is mine but I’m still reading so…
    And welcome back! It’s great you had such a fabulous time!

  30. Unrelated Question

    This is completely unrelated and I’m sure you get it all the time, but which of you books is your favorite? So far, Speak is mine but I’m still reading so…
    And welcome back! It’s great you had such a fabulous time!

  31. Yeah April!

    Hi Laurie! What a wonderful suprise for everyone! If I read carefully between the lines, I bet that everyone in the fam must have known except April. Man, she must have been overwhelmed. That story would have made a perfect front page story for the Pall. It tugs at the heart strings! Hope you are keeping cool! Big hello to everyone. Lori

  32. Yeah April!

    Hi Laurie! What a wonderful suprise for everyone! If I read carefully between the lines, I bet that everyone in the fam must have known except April. Man, she must have been overwhelmed. That story would have made a perfect front page story for the Pall. It tugs at the heart strings! Hope you are keeping cool! Big hello to everyone. Lori

  33. Yeah April!

    Hi Laurie! What a wonderful suprise for everyone! If I read carefully between the lines, I bet that everyone in the fam must have known except April. Man, she must have been overwhelmed. That story would have made a perfect front page story for the Pall. It tugs at the heart strings! Hope you are keeping cool! Big hello to everyone. Lori

  34. Re: Yeah April!

    Yep, April was the only one in the dark. I’m not quite sure how my sister pulled it off, but she can do anything she puts her mind to.

  35. Re: Yeah April!

    Yep, April was the only one in the dark. I’m not quite sure how my sister pulled it off, but she can do anything she puts her mind to.

  36. Re: Yeah April!

    Yep, April was the only one in the dark. I’m not quite sure how my sister pulled it off, but she can do anything she puts her mind to.

  37. It’s April

    I was totally shocked you guys it was great I love my whole family for doing this for me. It was a great moment…I outdid the valedictorian in applause. 🙂 Go me! Perks of being a blonde: You’re totally clueless the whole time ;).

  38. It’s April

    I was totally shocked you guys it was great I love my whole family for doing this for me. It was a great moment…I outdid the valedictorian in applause. 🙂 Go me! Perks of being a blonde: You’re totally clueless the whole time ;).

  39. It’s April

    I was totally shocked you guys it was great I love my whole family for doing this for me. It was a great moment…I outdid the valedictorian in applause. 🙂 Go me! Perks of being a blonde: You’re totally clueless the whole time ;).

  40. Re: It’s April

    All props to your mom – she’s the one who made it happen, with a little help from your brother and the US Army.

  41. Re: It’s April

    All props to your mom – she’s the one who made it happen, with a little help from your brother and the US Army.

  42. Re: It’s April

    All props to your mom – she’s the one who made it happen, with a little help from your brother and the US Army.

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