HS countdown #1-- GRADUATION CELEBRATION

I chose not to write about Graduation itself because I don't remember anything about the ceremony (except that Brad Belcher had a seizure and collapsed on stage-- that was scary!) Instead of showing shots of me in my baby-blue graduation gown, I am posting pictures of my girl friends in their bathing suits... without written permission. And they can't do NOTHIN' about it. Na-na-na-na boo-boo! (quoting my two year old.)

I loved high school, so I am not sure why I celebrated when it was over.. I guess it was a good excuse (as any) to party. Our senior dinner dance was held downtown at Little America. A bunch of girls decided to sleep at the hotel-- [again our parents let us go without any adults] and it was a total blast. We checked in, swam, got ready together and headed downstairs to the awards ceremony.. and then we danced the night away. After the dance, we rented a long white limo and cruised State Street. We had chocolate covered strawberries and sparkling champagne (courtesy of Paula Kawa! Thank you!) The limo drove us up to the capital and all around the city. We screamed through the sunroof and felt like the coolest, hottest girls in town... Every 16 year old boy who just got their learner's permit wanted a piece of us... and we have pictures to prove it.

Our group of guy friends also checked into a hotel room at Little America just down the hall from us, but they got kicked out because they didn't have an adult with them.. and we were so happy about it! We rubbed it in their faces and enjoyed the peace and quiet we had in our hotel room (if you call giggling and laughing all night peace and quiet.) It was a night to remember--with such a fun group of girls!

After graduation, when others were flying off to Hawaii or somewhere else exotic to celebrate, my BFF's and I headed to Camper World. We didn't have a lot of money and didn't want to "party" like the rest of the class so we celebrated HARD CORE in a pop up trailer. I don't remember the name of the town that we stayed in, but it had a population of 56 and wasn't worth remembering. We karaokeed by ourselves and danced with 12 year olds at a local "hang out spot." We cheered for the Jazz as they were playing in the NBA finals and almost got into a punching fight with the another man staying at Camper World. We went swimming, took hikes, made our own food and had a grand old time. I guess when you LOVE the company you're with, it doesn't matter where you go. Here is a hideous scrapbook page of pictures to prove how much fun we had..

I always have a good time with these ladies. It's crazy to think that somewhere along the way we grew up, got married, had kids and were forced to become adults.. but we're still the same old girls and we STILL know how to have a good time (after ALL these years!) I remember Karlin and I staying awake all night in this camper crying about how much we were going to miss each other as we got ready to go to different colleges.. We were awake when the sun rose and we were seriously sobbing! Little did we know that no matter how far apart we lived, or how crazy life got, we would still be able to remain close.. it's so refreshing to have friends that you can always be yourself around.

I can't believe I am even posting this picture because it is going down in history as the ugliest picture of me EVER. But it always gives us a good laugh, though so I thought I would share.. I believe I have a quadruple chin.. and I am proud of it!

This post concludes my HIGH SCHOOL countdown.

Believe it or not, I had to cut out a lot.. such as---volunteering with Muscular Dystrophy and attending their summer camp each year, cheating in Mr. Fisher's first period English class (Remember when he had a stroke while bending over to turn on a movie?), Tetris tournaments during calculus, MEL NOMIYAMA.. nuff said, favorite hall monitors who never got us in trouble, the successful food drives and Sub for Santa fundraisers, student gov. camp in Price.. staying awake ALL night and then running through the grave yard at sunrise, Colby Holt eventually getting baptized (I teased him all through HS that he would convert, and he did!), watching Girls Just Wanna Have Fun a million times in Stephanie Kawa's basement... while doing all the dance moves, Teaching Michelle Carr about sex.. BOY! that girl was naive, putting up Christmas lights for Homecoming in the middle of our SAT test (as if decorating for a dance was much more important than our college entrance exam!) Bingham High rivalry.. and having to do the WIGGELO (or Jiggelo according to Val) at one of their assemblies because our football team lost, The fabulous $10 florescent pink student government couch, Getting into a big fight with Duffy during driver's ed. He was my teacher and I wouldn't talk to him for weeks because of a 'discussion' we had on one of our drives. We eventually made up, (unfortunately) and whenever he saw me in the hall (even if he was 100 feet away) he would YELL, "HI CLAW!" with his hands out like a tiger.. I always looked the other way and pretended not to hear him, tuna sandwiches in Mr. Bickmore's closet, Belva Kay Davis, buying an ENORMOUS bag of fortune cookies and getting sick after eating them ALL (do you remember that Tristie and Kelly?) I am sure you all wanted lengthy entries about each one story... but a girl can only post so much, ya know. Thanks for sticking with me!

*I just added more pictures to the previous posts-- Fran had a copy of Bowcutt in his zip up pj's, so make sure to scroll down and take a peek!

Happy ten year reunion! I can't wait to see everyone tonight and I am SO GLAD my husband is joining me! It wasn't easy convincing him, but he's comin' after all! For those of you who wondered what Aaron's reaction was to the picture of me and my ex-boyfriend, I will let you know--- First he said, "I would pay Scott Wood good money to take you off my hands." Then he cracked a joke about how he and Scott are definitely alike.. especially the smart and good looking part. He said that he thinks Scott Wood is SO good looking that HE would like to sit next to him..... See what strings you can pull, RaeVal.. I'd like to be at their table, please.