forty words: revised

at my high school graduation we each got forty words that they would read as we walked across the stage. forty words where we could say whatever we wanted and leave last and final mark on ramstein high school. random words, song lyrics, quotes, whatever. forty words that were the last words of our high school careers. and what did i say?

"Thanks to all my family and friends. I couldn't have done it without you."

that's it. that's all i said. in case you didn't notice, that is not forty words. not even close. it's only 14. don't get me wrong, i meant every one of those 14 words. but there were 26 more i could have used. so much could be said in 26 words.  (i've obviously thought about this a lot. probably too much. oh well.) there was silence as i walked across the stage. embarrassed much? when i wrote those words and turned them in, i had every intention of going in and changing them. i guess walking down the F hallway was just too much of a workout for me. i only had seminary in that room every. single. morning. but let's just forget i said that.

graduation pictures are all over facebook. i love looking at them and remembering just how i felt when i was in their shoes two years ago. excited. happy. relieved. and scared out of my mind. but what do i remember most about my graduation? the fact that i only used 14 words. so here are my revised forty words. the words i should have said.

"Germany. Friendships. Happiness. Rain. Traveling. Paris. Basketball. Seminary. Peanut Butter Twix. Strawberry chapstick. Vera Bradley. Family. Love. Airplanes. Blessings. Prom. Soda. Utah. Seewoog. H&M. Castles. Sven. Commissary sandwiches. Ling-ling. Cruising. Embarrassing moments. Laughter. Surprises. The time of my life."

i'm probably the only one that even remembers how little i said. but my parents will never let me live it down. so, this one's for them.

Class of 2010