Graduation day!

Graduation. A day I never thought I'd see. I took so long, honestly, so long to graduate. For someone that has been in school consecutively since I graduated high school, I just have taken the longest time to get my degree. It's fine, I don't regret any decisions I've made, but, I'm just having a "holy shit" realization because, honestly, finally. I originally wasn't going to walk because I didn't see much point in it, and I am missing my department graduation today because, I just don't care for having my name called. However, Obama was our keynote speaker. How could you not go. That's just a rare opportunity I will never have again. So, alas, I went. And I can't lie, I am glad I did it overall. My mom was so excited, she reminded me of my nana in a way, the way she prepared a few days leading up to it. It was almost as if nothing else was on her agenda. Stuff like that chokes me up.

Anyway, it was a long day. A long, long day. We had to line up and be there by 7am. The commencement didn't start until 1130, but you know, security was off the heezy. It was cool in the morning and then stupidly hot. I felt so badly for my family because they were sitting right in the sun. They all have sun burns now, I'm sorry, I love you... The ceremony didn't feel too long and once it was done Ali waited for me while my family went to the restaurant we were all going to. From there it was pure bliss. We ate pizza and then went to bootlegger's, forever my favorite brewery. Once Ali and I left my family, we drank coffee and tea and laid in the park. It was so nice, exactly what I wanted after a long day, for all of us. It was one of my happiest moments.

(yes, I'm wearing my birkenstocks, don't judge me, comfort over everything... my friend's heel MELTED when we were walking out, birkenstocks forever).

Now, only for my heart to explode... my best friends, my heart & soul. The ladies I have literally grew up with and never have let go. Aly, Ari, and Devon. They all came over around 930pm to get food and drinks. That's what you call best friends. They worked all day, and yet, still made the effort to make a deal out of me graduating. I honestly can't put into words how much I love them and how much that meant to me. Friends are very hard to find, and yet, I have three secure ones that I know will be lifelong. I've already accumulated half of my life of knowing and loving them. They are ones that have become family. Regardless of what we do, we will always be there. Loves of my god damn life.

So we had linx, because Ari's #1 saying in life, "do you wanna get linx..." Vegan hot dogs, man, how could you go wrong? Aly went home because she lives far, and worked an event earlier. Dev, Ari, and I headed off to downtown Santa Ana for drinks and desserts and then beer. Always end the night with beer. We went to the copper door to end the night and holy shit, the worst music was playing. So we ended up chugging our beers just to leave. When you chug, you feel the effects all at once. We were all burpy, sloppy, and semi-nauseated. It's fine. We didn't throw up or die (I had a moonshine margarita, prior, boozy as hell. Worth it). Everything's fine. When we got to my house, we did it old school, sat in the car and talked forever. Boys, stories of our day, making fun of each other. Everything. Those are my girls. Nothing could fill me up more than that.