Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Pomp & Panic


I am having a hard time with all these June graduations. 

When they play Pomp & Circumstance, I cover my ears, rock in my chair, and sing Mary Had a Little Lamb instead.

Full story in today's Chicago Parent - CLICK HERE TO READ.


Joe's graduation from the Chicago Fire Academy.  I'm not in any of the pictures because Jack threw up on my hair and I accidentally applied black eyeliner as lipstick liner and wound up looking goth.  

My 1978 preschool graduation.  I hated my short hair, and my mortarboard hat blew into the street and got run over by a Cadillac Coupe deVille.

Plastered by at

20 comments:

  1. singlemumplusoneJune 5, 2013 at 10:43 AM

    It's times like this I'm glad I live in Australia. Graduation just isn't the big deal here that it is over there in the good ole US of A. I don't even think I had a graduation ceremony when I finished high school...

    And we never get mortarboards unless we graduate from university.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MarianneJune 5, 2013 at 10:13 PM

      I'm moving! And do you think you can arrange a little intro to Jesse Spencer for me? YUM. My poor paper mortarboard never saw that stupid car coming...

      Delete
  2. Tina@WhatWeKeepJune 5, 2013 at 2:54 PM

    Eyeliner as lip liner? Bwahaha!
    Love that sweet little pic of you, though.
    Even with your Caddy crushed hat.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MarianneJune 5, 2013 at 10:14 PM

      Aw - thank you. And what's a preschool graduation without at least one crying 5 year old? It's practically a mandate.

      Delete
  3. andi filanteJune 5, 2013 at 3:03 PM

    Mrs. O'Leary's cow and your leaking body... {giggle}!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MarianneJune 5, 2013 at 10:15 PM

      Oh yes. I was quite the disaster. Perhaps even more than the Great Chicago Fire.

      Delete
  4. Carol Noren JohnsonJune 5, 2013 at 4:11 PM

    Just love that picture of you at your preschool graduation and your column is wonderful as usual.

    My dad cried when I graduated from college and the only other time I ever saw him cry was when my grandmother, his mother, died. I don't cry for Pomp and Circumstance or even like the song.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MarianneJune 5, 2013 at 10:16 PM

      That is such a wonderful memory - he must've been so proud! And Pomp and Circumstance still makes me think of stale beer.

      Delete
  5. AndreaJune 5, 2013 at 6:29 PM

    Yet you had the wherewithall to dress those adorable babes in thematic colors and sweater!!!!! Love your pic...LOVE IT!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MarianneJune 5, 2013 at 10:18 PM

      I have no recollection whatsoever of even planning to put the boys in fire-themed clothes. I can't help but wonder if I did it by accident. It was so unlike me to have been that "together" during that crazy period. But thank you for assuming the best!

      Delete
  6. Dollops of DianeJune 5, 2013 at 7:36 PM

    If there aren't any pics of you from the Fire graduation, could you do a reenactment please? I'm going to need to see that lip/eye liner! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MarianneJune 5, 2013 at 10:19 PM

      Oh - it wasn't pretty, Diane. I think Joe hesitated introducing me to several of his new fire brethren for that very reason. I looked insane.

      Delete
  7. Mis AnthropyJune 5, 2013 at 9:16 PM

    I didn't have another dog for a very long time for the very same reason. There are dogs who don't have fur so you can't be allergic, but they're little and act like dumb rodents. Your pictures are cute. My mother let me get my hair done for 8th grade graduation, but didn't tell me she'd told the stylist to cut it all off. I hated my short hair too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MarianneJune 5, 2013 at 10:21 PM

      That breaks my heart, Mis Anthropy!! It's funny how childhood hair trauma never really fades away. My sister has always had this fantastic head of thick hair. But me with my pixie? People constantly commented, "what a darling little boy!" Oh the humanity.

      Delete
  8. UnknownJune 6, 2013 at 9:27 AM

    Oh, I'm so sorry about Smokey, but also secretly relieved to know that I'm not the only mean mother who won't buy her kids a dog. What really freaks me out is that I will have a high school graduate in two years!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MarianneJune 11, 2013 at 10:16 AM

      Not possible. I don't believe a word of it. You're not old enough to have a high schooler. Were you a child bride?

      Delete
  9. Julie HutchinsonJune 9, 2013 at 2:10 AM

    Oh you are so gorgeous! and thank goodness the cameraman didn't catch YOU picking your nose like that poor unfortunate girl behind you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MarianneJune 11, 2013 at 10:17 AM

      HOW ABOUT IT? I was wondering if anyone would notice that. I knew I could count on you, Julie! ;)

      Delete
  10. hi-dJune 9, 2013 at 10:42 PM

    You first off, that is one adorable photo of you! Your stories are always so funny. I remember coming home from my High school graduation to an open house. Someone kicked open the back door, but left when the alarm went off...apparently they took a cue from the congrat sign my mom had out front for me and they thought they would try and break in while we were away.

    Thank goodness I didn't have to worry about any puke though, that day! Ick!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MarianneJune 11, 2013 at 10:18 AM

      OH MY GOSH!! Now THAT is a bad graduation story! *note to self: never put signs outside*

      Delete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)