I GRADUATED! I can't even believe it!!! I thought that Friday would never come and it did! I drove very carefully to ensure proper and SAFE arrival in severe fear that I would end up some tragic story about the girl who "Almost graduated" but got in a car accident instead. The day...the WEEK was perfect!! Finals ended on Tuesday and as I turned in my last final and walked to my car I didn't know if I should scream or cry so I did nothing. Of course, I had a massive breakdown as I was studying for my final so I guess the crying and screaming just came early. I left and promptly went to my friend Kelly's house in order to celebrate. We went to lunch and had a very wonderful meal and a drink to start off the week. Oddly enough, after that I ended up running some errands and doing laundry, not exactly the most exciting thing but a very necessary thing since I had a busy week ahead. On Tuesday night I was actually able to sleep since I took the night off of work which was needed because the rest of the week went a little something like this...
Wednesday morning I woke up and began getting ready for the day. It was early since I was meeting my friends Joyce and Luke for breakfast before I had to go to work. Very inconveniently I ended up with a flood in my bathroom and not enough towels to fix the problem. I ended up having to call my landlord and a plumber in order to get it fixed. This created a lack of shower situation and had to quickly make other plans. My mom was gracious enough to get up at 7AM in order for me to run over to her house and use her shower. The plan was get ready for the WHOLE day since I wouldn't have time later but that didn't happen. All I got was the shower before I had to rush home to meet my friends. We had to wait and hang out until the landlord and plumber showed up and then went to lunch (which was originally supposed to be breakfast). I was able to come home and get ready for the rest of the day since the bathroom was fixed (not necessarily dry, but fixed). I went to work and patiently waited for the time to pass which took FOREVER! My friends from Utah were coming into town and I couldn't WAIT to see them! Taylor got in first since he was driving down. We hung out for about an hour before we had to go pick up Stephen and Derek at the airport. We went straight to their hotel to check in and then spent time in their Bar and Grill which was really good. I LOVE those guys sooooo much! They mean the world to me and I was so blessed to be able to have them in town for this very special celebration. We laughed our asses off till we cried and told story after story of events that we have missed over the years of not living in the same place. We all used to be roommates too so we had plenty of stories to reminisce on. It was GREAT! We went back to my house so I could show it off and then I went to bed.
On Thursday morning I was able to sleep and then got up to begin my day. I was able to have lunch with my friend David and then headed to my mom's to pick up my Grandma and Sister from the airport. Conveniently my friends and family were staying at the same hotel (unplanned by the way!) so after we dropped off my family I just went to my friends room in order to dinner with them. Dinner was fantastic! Again, it could have been the company or the small amount of alcohol but we were having a blast either way! We walked around the mall for a little bit after dinner (the restaurant was just outside the mall) and then headed home since we had to be up early the next morning. Thursday night ended just perfect!
I wasn't able to sleep on Thursday night so I was up all night long (not anything that I haven't done before but probably something I shouldn't have done) When the time rolled around for me to get ready for graduation I did. The plan was to meet at Kelly's for breakfast and coffee and then go from there. We met, had a wonderful breakfast and went on our way. We did find it funny that after all our years of NOT eating breakfast it ended up being the last thing we did as students. I drove (like I said before, very, very carefully!) to ASU and found our place to be. The waiting felt like forever and it was a bit chilly outside. We were finally walking into the arena and it was a feeling I can't quite explain. WE WERE DONE! WE WERE DONE! WE WERE DONE! I walked across the stage, had my name called and if it weren't for pure excitement and lack of sleep I would have cried because WE WERE DONE! My mom was there to give me a hug at the bottom of the stage and the friends that I had traveled through school with were right there to celebrate as our names were called. After we sat down from there it was hard to wait. When the ceremony was all done I met with my friends and family to take pictures and plan the rest of the day. We went to lunch and had a wonderful, wonderful meal! Afterwards we all separated to do our own thing until the party. I was able to take a short nap to give the me energy I needed to keep going! Kelly and I had our party together and it was sooooooooo much fun! I can't even begin to explain it! It was perfect! We had food, drinks, games, and lots of people at the house. The perfect combination for a great party! The night ended and I was soooooooo sad to have it over. I had never felt so amazing! The night was more than what I could have asked for. The only downfall is that the next day was Saturday!
I got up and began the day with my friends from Utah for breakfast before having to take them to the airport. I tried VERY hard to convince them to stay but it didn't work. Clearly I wasn't a communication major of I should have been able to get them to not go home. I wanted them to stay so bad. I miss them so much and all the time. They made my entire week by being here. I am so thankful and so blessed to have them in my life. I was sooooooooo sad when I had to drop them off. I never wanted the week to end. After they were off, I had to get home and get ready for my evening with my mom, sister, and grandma. We went to this FABULOUS pizza restaurant that took 4 hours to get into...that's how good it was, not kidding! We were able to talk, enjoy our bottle of wine and have THE BEST pizza ever! By the time we were done with that I was EXHAUSTED! I was ready to get home and get some sleep. I slept so well and it felt great!!!
Sunday morning I got up and prepared for the day once again. I met my family for breakfast at this wonderful little place called Palette and I have never tasted breakfast that good before. I had Banana Rum Cake French Toast...made your mouth water now didn't I?! My mom always finds the little "hole in the wall" restaurants that are just perfect! Afterwards I spent the day Christmas shopping and spending time with friends just relaxing. Now I'm at work sooooooo tired but NOT complaining! Tomorrow (well, I guess technically today) I get to sleep like I have never slept before on a Monday since I don't have to be at the pool working my 2nd job. I think that my Monday overnight is going to be just fantastic since I will be well rested for the first time all semester. I CAN'T WAIT!
I don't know where or what I'm going to do from here but for now, I'm going to enjoy the fact that I can go to the gym when I want, grocery shop when I need to, read a book for fun, and SLEEP! For now, that's what I'm going to do. I'm so happy to have it all be over!
