I Think I Just Graduated...

Proud parents. I'm pretty blessed.

"All children, except one, grow up." Or so declares paragraph one, page one of my Favorite Story Ever. 

I loved every moment of my college graduation yesterday. From the impromptu photoshoot my goofy family decided to have on the Quad to the walk across the stage (in Jack Rogers, to my mother's dismay. My nude heels broke. Uh, whoops).

  

Daddy thought it'd be hysterical to replay 4 years of giving money to Mr. Samford Benefactor himself, Dwight Beeson. Well, it was funny...

But back in sweet Montgomery today, my fingers lilted across book titles until they landed on my go-to: Peter Pan by James Barrie. Yes. I just finished studying CIA investigation of Abu Ghraib and Gothic architecture in Europe. And yes, 24 hours later, I have reverted to age 10.

Can't help it. He was my first crush, followed by Aladdin. My babysitter lovingly allowed us to kill the Mary Martin version VHS. Then, in high school I danced Wendy in Alabama Dance Theatre's Peter Pan, resulting in months of character study. First time I set foot in London, I'm running to the Kensington Gardens Peter Pan statue. Shoot. Do you know what? I realize I am still attracted to confident, stubborn boys today. Okay, now I'm psycho-analyzing myself like my pyschology-major roommate... Miss you, Rach :)

See why they call it Samford Country Club?

Regardless, I'm taking a page from the tale. Yes, I'll accept responsibility. Yes, I'll work to grow and learn. 


But I pledge to be forever young. 'Cause I kinda adore what Kid Cudi says, that people will always say what they will. You've gotta see where God's brought you, the blessings you have, and then--high on dreams--keep soaring upwards.


"I'm feeling like I'm Peter Pan, minus the tights and the fairies /
Happy to see how far I've come /
To the same place it began my dreams and imagination perfectly at peace /
So I move along a bit higher... /
I'll be up, up, and away / up, up, and away / 'cause they 'gon judge me anyway / so whatever."

- Kid Cudi, "Up, Up, and Away"

Swear on my honor this is staged. They made me. Kristen demanded I "go frolic." I'll also jump off a bridge if you tell me, apparently.

So happy graduation to me! 

Now? Second star to the right, straight on 'til morning.

Happy 101

Thanks, Elizabeth and Grace in Her Step for tagging me! So I think I now list 10 things that make me happy...

Award Rules:

1. List 10 things that make you happy.

2. Tag 10 bloggers that brighten your day.

3. If you are one of the 10 bloggers awarded, link back to this blog, and pass it along.

1 :: Moments every day when the Lord reminds me that when the world is falling out from underneath me, I'll be found in Him still standing.

2 :: The Pebbles {My 5 besties. How'd we get the name? The Wise Camilla said, "God is my rock, but y'all are my pepples. Aww, shucks.}

3 :: Alpha Delta Pi {Yeahyeahyeah, I know, sappy. But to me, this sorority is more than chanting Pi, Pi, ADPi during rush--they are the net to catch me here at Samford. "We live for each other and for Alpha Delta Pi."}

4 :: Toes in sand, Lilly bathing suit on, waves crashing, and skin warm. Then Bud & Alley's or The Red Bar. Done and done.

5 :: Live music. Correction: DANCING to live music. From Charleston bars to Destin digs, just give me a beat and I'm bouncin'.

6 :: Sundresses + cowgirl boots. Or Jack Rogers.

7 :: Tailgating on the rolling plains of Auburn.

8 :: These ballets - Giselle, Romeo & Juliet, Swan Lake, Serenade, Western Symphony. {True, I haven't been a company member since '06. But I proudly retain my slightly snobbish "ballet is the basis of all dance" mentaility proudly. Go ahead, try me. I'll even wiggle my scarred 10 toes to prove it.}

9 :: Sweet little Montgomery, Alabama. It's family.

10 :: New York City {First trip: an entire summer studying ballet at Joffrey at age 14. Last trip: showing God's love to the roughest parts of Brooklyn and Spanish Harlem. From the glitz to the grime, I ADORE this city and the people that inhabit it.}

Tags
Buckhead Belle
The Modern Traditionalist
Starfish and Sundresses
All That Inspires
A Day in the Life, My World, & The People in It
Something Beautiful
Let the Tide Pull Your Dreams Ashore
A Trip Down South
Southern Gent
Living the Dream

Note to those tagged: The blog gods will probably throw lighting at me, but I have seen some writers not include the award picture when reposting this. I dunno. It may mess with your aesthetic. Plus, I tagged some guys and that gingham is super June Cleaver.