Small town Grad

Gotta love small towns.

This afternoon was the grad parade. All the young men and women in their suits and gowns make their way through town. Every traffic violation in the book was being broken, all with a police escort at the front of the procession, lights flashing, leading the way.

People came out of their houses and set chairs on the lawns to watch the kids go by, people started gathering in the downtown, on sidewalks and street edges.

Behind the police car rode a girl in full western regalia,including the big, black hat. Seemed every inch of her was flashing in sequins on a fancy black and white paint, its hooves polished and gleaming. Then came a tractor, dump truck, quads, motorbike and the riders with no helmets (wrecks the hair do!), fixed up pick-ups with kids standing in the back. New Mustang, old mustang, old Camaro done to the teeth, an impressive Javelin, vintage cars, roaring diesels....all the suits and gowns smiling and waving as they end one journey to begin another. All the townsfolk smiling and waving back, coming out to wish them well. It was small and humble in its way, but an annual event that the local people wouldn't miss! Even if you don't have kids graduating, you know someone who does.

Don't know if other small towns do this, but it's a unique tradition. At least we get to see everyone polished and clean, the lovely image of our hopeful next generation. It felt good to live here today.

Uno, you should add to the title, small town grad and CynthiaM's Grandson, and others, smiling. Just kidding.

I saw you and Hubby in your brown pickup truck heading to the hardware store, as you passed us by you were waving your brains out at me, as my family and other family and friends sat on a cement abutment waiting for the caravan of celebration vehicles, all sporting kids in them, as you told in your tale. I waved back, waving as hard as I could as I watched you pointing your finger at me, probably yellin', "there's Cindi" . You could not have missed me, our eyes met, I know you saw me, smiling.

Ya, the grad of A.L. Fortune high school, Enderby, B.C. -- the grad of 2012. What a night. What a prideness I haven't felt in such a long time, this very specific type of pride I experienced in 1988 when my oldest gal graduate from high school.

This was my Grandson, his beautiful girlfriend and a mountain of other kids, think there was about 100 of these lovely kids, all taking that adventure to a new road in their life. The school is small, sporting about 300 kids. Small time school, in a small time town. Laid back, no hurry for anything in life -- just how I like it. My Grandson and his band played the old song during a break, “school’s out for summer”. We all know that tune and it was wonderful, talented group, he plays lead guitar. His Girlfriend and her choir sang a jazz song too, talented group.

Yes, the RCMP officer leading the parade, people on motorcyles without helmuts, horse walking down the middle of the road, so beautiful and shiney -- all boundaries of law were forgiven, for that very short time, small town. Not too many places can one do these types of things, small town, small roads and wonderful folk. Kids in their hot cars, obeying law, but putting on a teeny tiny show of power and what the car can do. No black skids, but just little revving of engines, they have respect for things here, in this small town Enderby. Our Grandson and his graduating close friends were on the pontoon boat of his Pappa and Mamma, the Dad and three Uncles drove in the truck that pulled the boat. The kids were in the glory – one gal standing and waving like she was the Queen. Well, this was cool, many kids were in cars with sun roofs, standing up, waving like the Queen, it was a glory to behold. All these beautiful young people on the shining day of their life. This was a day of pride. And I was blessed to be part of this celebration. I still recall watching all the young adults as they received their graduation award – their faces shining as bright as the North Star at night. The Grand Parade at the end of the evening. All the students hooking arms in two and threes and then long lines of 5 or 6, parading and walking around in unison, showing the world the beautiful selves, their happy and shining faces. Ramblin’ a little here, but this is something that I need to blow a horn about – I am a blessed woman. Our Grandson is fortunate, he has three sets of Grandparents, all of which attended, family came from a very long distance – to celebrate this day of joy.

The sun shone all day, we have had days of rain, but for that one day, the sun shone, today is back to dismal rain. Are we blessed, yes, something else surely shone on us, and that was Mother Nature and her gift to the Grad of 2012.

We gathered at our Daughter’s home afterwards for a small further celebration, sitting outside around a burn barrel, beverages in our hands, the night was beautiful too, dry and it was a late night, well for us -- is midnight a late hour, I don’t know, but I think it is, smiling. Thank you Uno for making a thread about the Class of 2012 in our little town Enderby. Have that beautiful day, CynthiaM.

CYnthia, I DID see you in your cute little sundress and wondered if you had a Grandchild graduating.

Didn't the day turn out perfect for it? Today there is rain and gloom but yesterday all those handsome kids in their boats and tractors and horse and quads, got a break from this nasty weather. It couldn't have been more perfect. I thought the boat was such a good choice, considering the wet weather we've been having. And yes, wasn't there the revving of engines and waving girls? I thought it was grand!

Do other small towns do this? It would be interesting to know. I am pleased that you all had such a good family time, Cynthia. We three need to coffee soon and you can crow your proud Gramma heart out to us!

A lovely picture painted with your words Uno and CynthiaM.

I have never seen or heard of a grad procession quite like the one you have described. Although if there are 100 grads I would not call that a small town, quite a large town in fact.

My graduating class was 27 people. My town have a fall grad, the week before September long weekend. The new grade 12 class decorated the gym for us and it was a chance to say goodby as we parted ways to go off to University or tech school or to work or to raise families.

Isn't it neat that each town has its own traditions?

What a nice way to run them out of town.