"Sigh" School days

I am not one of those people that looks back on my high school years and thinks of them as the best times of my life.  I was painfully shy, socially awkward, had little self confidence and was just plain uncomfortable in my skin.  I wasn't involved in many after school activities - school sponsored or otherwise, went to very few dances, ball games, parties etc.  I had a few close friends that I could count on and hang out with.  Without them I probably wouldn't have any memories of high school at all.  I remember when I graduated high school I had basically no idea what I wanted to do in life, or even what kind of life I wanted to have. 




High School Graduation with one of my lifelong best friends Jessica

 Without any real plan I signed up for classes at the University of Louisville and just decided I would figure things out as I went.  I made new friends, tried new things, made some mistakes, had a few accomplishments and here I am, living in California - married with two kids.  Didn't see that one coming. 




Me at Kindergarten Graduation.  My mom made my dress along with a matching one for my Cabbage Patch doll

 With so many graduations going on right now it got me thinking.  What one piece of advice would I pass on to the new high school graduates?  What one thing was instrumental to my success as an adult. For me it was the willingness to take chances and try new things.  I had a pretty nice life in Kentucky when I got the offer to move to California.  I didn't need to run away from anything, I loved my friends and my family and had it pretty good. My heart told me to stay in Kentucky but my brain just kept telling me "You will never have this opportunity again".  So, as I've said before, Fat Cat and I boarded a plane to San Francisco and the rest is history.  Sure in my college years I made some mistakes - okay, maybe more than some.  (All my friends from college are getting a good laugh right now.)  But all of those mistakes made me who I am today, each one a lesson learned.  I am very happy with my life now and I owe it all to being willing to take a chance and see what happens.  I urge all you high school graduates to do the same - you never know where one little opportunity might get you, just be sure it doesn't get you in jail!



Senior prom with 2 more lifelong friends - Amanda and Jamie