the dust has only just begun to form crop circles in the carpet

Ear Candy: "Hide and Seek" by Imogen Heap

Wow. This is really it. I was looking at a picture of me and Claire at graduation, which was sitting next to the evidence of a photobooth escapade of ours circa 8th grade, and one thing stuck out at me was how old we looked! Before the ceremony, I was twirling around Rosie's living room in my new dress and dancing around in a caffinated craze while James mocked me and played gameboy. We were babies, back at six with nothing to do by play and be happy. And then we put our robes on, and we were suddenly back into our real bodies, but we look damn good in red. And all I could think was how thrilled I was to have my best friends there with me.

Yesterday was the most surreal experience of my life. Processing out onto the field in all my red (after narrowly escaping a panic attack in the gym and adjusting the eye make up that was streaming down my face in nervous/excited tears) with everyone I had gone to school with was crazy. I could see all the people, but the only sound was the band. I couldn't hear the cheers. When I was in my seat before we had to sing, I was shaking, and I grabbed Lach's hand. He squeezed mine and held it, and that was all that grounded me. We sang, and I loved being up there with seven people who have been seven of my favorite people and closest friends from day one. When we got nervous, or scared, Lach and I would grab hands and reassure each other. I could feel the love and the friendship, and knew we were all connected. Watching my classmates cross that stage was crazy unreal. I could hear the crowd, some people getting lots of cheers, some none at all, and I wondered what reaction I would be met with. But when I got up there, as I was grinning like a damn fool and Auntie Shannon was in no way subtly taking pictures, the last sound I heard was my name. There was no sound, only me in the sunlight. It was like a movie, I swear. That was so amazing, but I can't believe it's real.

Aren't I too young to be doing this? To be graduating? Growing up and moving away? I won't think of that now. New school, new people, new friends, (new shoes!!!), old Erin? Everything is changing, the world is still spinning, and I am sitting still. Not still in the way that I am never moving forward, because I am too much to not. But sitting still in the way that I am content to just watch the worl for now. I am waiting for a "Dare to be Great" situation.

As we all go on, and become the great people that we already so much are, I can only hope that everything that has happened will not be lost entirely. But if that is the case, than all I can say is that it has been amazing. But I know that the people who mean the most to me, and the friends whom I hold closest will not be lost, because I simply love them too much to let them go. So I guess that we will stad together, arms linked, iPods on ready to kick some ass.

Congratulations to the Class of 2006. Way to kick some ass.

If you and I have our arms linked, I love you.

~E