These memories are playing like a film without sound. And I keep thinking of the night in June.

Those are the images
The images of the beginning of this fantastic year
And the final image of this fantastic year.
I graudated.
Yesterday at about 8:30ish, I became an alumni of Kingsway.
No longer a student.
I sat in my seat
and during the ceremony I looked around
I looked at the faces of my fellow classmates
Some of them good and great friends
Others well known people
Others people I didn't do very well.
But, I knew that this was the last time
The last time we'd all be together
We'd all be one united group: The class of 2007.

Recieving my diploma.
It was an odd feeling.
It was happy, yet sad.
As was the whole situation.
Then I flipped the tassles sides and cheered with my class
"It's all over! It's all over. 07. 07. It's all over!" we cheered
Little did we know how true our words would ring true in moments
It was really all over.
No more Kingsway.
No more classes.
No more teachers we've known for awhile
No more friends we'd made
No more pep rallies
No more assemblies/grade level meetings.

As the song The Prayer by Andrea Bochelli and Celine Dion from Quest from Camelot played.
I listened to the words for the first time.
I hadn't listened through all those crazy rehersals.
The words hit close to me.
I walked down my row to exit and ran into our principal at the end.
He said "Your crying, no need to cry."
But there was a reason to cry.
I wouldn't see some of these people again
I'd never have HSPA Math with Melonie and Allen
or Honors English with Billy and Lauren Kurek
or Homeroom with Jake and John.
or walk around Gym singing showtunes with Lauren.
or anything.
The high school experience was sincerely over.

I bawled my eyes out.
I walked around in a daze.
Walking from person to person: Pats on the back, handshakes, hugs, pictures.
I finally saw Ashley and I broke down.
We hugged and cried together.
I couldn't look her in the face.
My gulping tears and struggle to calm myself
And her tears and struggle to compose herself were the only sounds.
We finally parted and took a picture.
Then it was time to face the family.
I cried more and more.
I looked around on my way to see my family.
Several people I never thought would cry: were bawling.
I knew then, this was a time to cry.
Pictures were taken.
Smiles and tears.
Hugs and handshakes.
But, as I looked back as I exited the field
At the empty chairs, the chairs we'd sat at every reherasal.
They looked so lonely.
I remembered what Mr. Coleman said at Freshmen orientation
Then repeated during the ceremony:

"Close your eyes and imagine it's four years from now
And you're graduating.
Now open your eyes.
We'll. you're here."

It's true.
High school went like a blink.
A quick flutter of the eyes and four years swooped through.
As I sit reflecting on all this and listening to Vitamin C coo a lullaby of graduating.
I think along with the lyrics to the song:
"That it's not goodbye, but a time to fly"

And it's true.
This is not a goodbye.
But a time to fly.
To fly onto bigger things.
But that we'll still be as Vitamin C says "friends forever."
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And so we talked all night about the rest of our lives
Where we're gonna be when we turn 25
I keep thinking times will never change
Keep on thinking things will always be the same
But when we leave this year we won't be coming back
No more hanging out cause we're on a different track
And if you got something that you need to say
You better say it right now cause you don't have another day
Cause we're moving on and we can't slow down

These memories are playing like a film without sound
And I keep thinking of the night in June
I didn't know much of love, but it came too soon
And there was me and you, and then it got real blue
Stay at home talkin' on the telephone and
We would get so excited, we'd get so scared
Laughing at our selves thinking life's not fair
And this is how it feels

As we go on, we remember
All the times we had together
And as our lives change,
From whatever
We will still be, friends forever

So if we get the big jobs and we make the big money
When we look back now, will that joke still be funny?
Will we still remember everything we learned in school?
Still be trying to break every single rule
Will little brainy Bobby be the stockbroker man?
Can Heather find a job that won't interfere with her tan?
I keep, I keep thinking that it's not goodbye
Keep on thinking it's a time to fly And this is how it feels

As we go on, we remember
All the times we had together
And as our lives change,
From whatever
We will still be, friends forever

Will we think about tomorrow like we think about now?
Can we survive it out there?
Can we make it somehow?
I guess I thought that this would never end
And suddenly it's like we're women and men
Will the past be a shadow that will follow us 'round?
Will these memories fade when I leave this town I keep,
I keep thinking that it's not goodbye Keep on thinking it's a time to fly

As we go on, we remember
All the times we had together
And as our lives change,
From whatever
We will still be, friends forever

As we go on, we remember
All the times we had together
And as our lives change,
From whatever
We will still be, friends forever

As we go on, we remember
All the times we had together
And as our lives change,
From whatever
We will still be, friends forever

------ Graduation [Friends Forever] by Vitamin C