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May 07, 2005
Heartwood Graduation
Lets see. The best place to start would be graduation. Not only was I proud of Josh for graduating (He is now a certified massage therapist with 780 hours) but also for helping put together a fantastic graduation. From the dinner which consisted of delicious chicken and asparagus (everyone there was delighted to have chicken), right down to having a DJ, designing the programs (which I was proud he used one of my photos), and basically making it happen. Many people said it was the best graduation ever, which was nice to hear knowing how much work Josh had done to prepare.
I havent gotten a chance yet to post the pictures but they will be coming soon. So graduation was fun. His grandmother, Mark, and Barry made it there early in the afternoon and we all had lunch together. Josh finished up the programs while several friends of his decorated the Lodge and the Temple. I stayed in his room and got most of the packing done because he really didnt have the time.
He made it through his final class around 6pm and we met everyone at the lodge for graduation dinner. His grandmother was a bit funny when she saw the circle around the food in which they let out a loud oooooooooooooohm. When Mark asked her why she didnt participate, she flat out said "oh I dont believe in that". Yep, thats his grandmother lol.
Another funny quote I remember hearing her say, was when they let out an Aaaaaahhhhh at the ceramony. She turned to Josh and said "I hope your not into that". The woman is great and when she says this stuff, its like she doesnt expect and answer and she is just telling it like it is (to her belief of course).
So dancing to a DJ, African Drummers in the temple, and Karaoke. We danced at all 3 in different ways. The DJ was more house music and we strutted our stuff a bit. Even his grandmother got out there and danced. She had waited all evening "to see some dancing" and finally it happened. It was cool to see her out there shaking it with the younger folks.
After she retired, we went up to the temple to see the south african drumming. Wow! There was so much energy in the room. I was amazed. Drums banging, people dancing, and everyone feeling the rythm as if it was a part of them. Like the music was flowing through them and making them dance.
I sat by myself outside, back at the lodge, while Josh danced once again to the DJ. When he was done we headed into the karaoke room where I heard Shannon earlier singing Girls Just Want To Have Fun. Now I would have imagined that song being sung by gay men or women but never heard a straight man singing it. This kind of gives you an idea of how laid back people are there (not to mention fun as well as funny).
I belted out Lady Marmalade with the same ole fear that comes across me as I stand up in front of people making a fool of myself. I actually did quite well with the words I knew and hit the notes on key for the most part. The second half of the song was a bit more difficult and I pretty much stuck to the chorus. Everyone clapped and told me I did wonderful and I was a bit embarrassed. I headed off the stage into the corner with my face redder than a firetruck.
We retired to his room for the evening around 1am and its off to sleep. Thursday will be packing up the car, meeting his grandmother for breakfast, and finally on the road to SF to go HOME
Posted by Des at May 7, 2005 08:19 AM
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