June, 1998. The place, the Biggs High School gymnasium. It was raining outside so we had to move our graduation festivities inside much to my dismay. I'd always hoped that my graduation would be out in the sun rather than packed in stuffy hall, but it worked for the purpose. My role in graduation was small, lead the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance, than take my seat again, but for me, this small role was just right. I was 7th in my class and thus took my seat, accompanied by Anna Elliott, a dear friend that I'd known for years. As the time came, we walked by in file and took our proof that we'd done it. We'd made it through twelve years (more for some of us) of school and we were ready to tackle the next step! For some that meant a couple years at Butte College (the local J.C.), and for some it was right off to the working world. For me and a few others, it was onto a four year university to begin studying again in hopes of bigger and brighter things. California State University, Monterey Bay, here I come!

"The funny thing is, looking back now, what I remember most is how it ended. So maybe that New Years Eve 1972 didn't work out exactly like we had planned. There was heartbreak we didn't anticipate and events we couldn't have imagined. Still, it wasn't all bad. There was a magician. So maybe there was a message in it all. The future was calling us and no matter what, there was no turning back now." ~Kevin (Grown-up). (The Wonder Years)