Mom's thoughts on graduation

A multitude of thoughts flash through the mind of this mother on the day after her youngest child's graduation from high school. Of the milestones our children have passed up to this point, this one looms above as the major icon of "growing up."

We marveled at the first words, cheered the first steps, and wept as we left them for their first day of school. All the accomplishments during those 13 or so years come together in one evening as we see our babies don the cap and gown and walk across the stage to receive that all-important piece of paper that signifies they have "graduated."

Dictionary.com offers this definition of "graduation":
1. An act of graduating; the state of being graduated.
2. The ceremony of conferring degrees of diplomas, as at a college or school.
3. Arrangement in degrees, levels, or ranks.

Also a synonym for graduation is "commencement":
1. An act or instance of commencing; beginning
2. The ceremony of conferring degrees or granting diplomas at the end of the academic year.
3. The day on which this ceremony takes place.

Arrangements in degrees, levels, or ranks suggests one graduation may be the first of many, thus "commencement," an instance of beginning. The high school graduation is but the beginning of our child's life as an adult, even though we might prefer to continue thinking of them as our babies.

Knowing as we do the many struggles and joys ahead it is hard to think of letting them venture into the big wide world. When we've been right there for every accomplishment and defeat, how will they ever get along without us?

For those of you who are 'first-timers' to have a child graduate, I can tell you that you will survive. I don't think it really gets any easier with each one, but it is different. Some new grads will be leaving for the summer, while some will remain home until college begins in the fall, and some will immediately embark on life on their own, moving away or down the street. Whichever they choose, they are changed after receiving that diploma. Even if they are still under your roof, there is a sense of their independence that was not present before as they are more in control of their decisions and pursuits. They have taken the first major step to being their own individuals.

It was a shock to my system after my oldest daughter graduated, loading her possessions into her car to travel to Colorado to work for the summer. Lu went straight from there to college at NWOSU, three hours from home, and spent no more than a week or two under our roof until after her college graduation.

Luckily I had the other two to distract me and keep me busy, but the tears flowed as I cleaned out her room so her sister could move into it, leaving her room for Rusty.

When Jenny graduated it was somewhat different as she was not ready to leave home for good, going no father than Cameron in Lawton for college. It was still traumatic in ways as she transitioned into adulthood in such close proximity. After turning over her bedroom to her brother, she wound up back living with us, taking back her original room, but very much grown up and in charge of her own life.

Now here's Rusty, gathering up his things and getting ready to head off to Colorado to work, saying he does not plan to be moving back in. As much as I enjoy quiet time, the thought of not having one or the other of the kids popping in and out is sobering. Also sobering is the thought that all my children are now adults.

Although Jen is still here part of the time, I have a feeling that may not last much longer. After 33 years we will have an "empty nest." It's quite jarring to have that thought hitting home. I am comforted with knowing what a close family we are and that we will be together as often as possible. The wonderful cell phone and internet will keep us connected and there are lots of family holidays.

Two coming events loom in my mind. Watching Rusty drive off next week will surely be a tear-jerker of great proportions. Then next fall when school starts here and I don't have to be aware of the schedule or who is teaching what, after having a child in the Snyder school system since 1981, reality will sink in.

That said, I am so very proud of Rusty for all he has accomplished, and the individual he has always been. And I am going to enjoy seeing just where life takes him from here.


Lu, Rusty & Jenny and the beautiful bouquet Rusty gave me before graduation.

Election Results

Snyder voters elected a new mayor and two new council members in yesterday's city election.

Gary Anderson received the nod for mayor with 151 votes to incumbent Buster Spurlin's 86 votes and 56 for Allen Ford.

Bob Sproat replaces Sammie Gettens in the Ward I council position. Sproat received 153 votes and Gettens had 137.

The Ward IV seat will be occupied by Teresa Mills, who received 142 votes to Wayne Bates, 97, and Frank Tucker, 57.

Clayton Oxley retains his seat in Ward II with 134 votes. Joe Powell received 100 votes for the position and Skye Perry, 57.

Snyder Fire Department

Yesterday afternoon the fire whistle blew several times in an unusual sequence. I thought it sounded different, and knew everyone would be wondering, so I called city hall to find out what was going on, then sent out an email to my local list telling them that they had installed new sirens and were testing them.

It's so hard to get any kind of information out in Snyder without a local TV or radio station. (I know, we do have a somewhat local radio station, but I don't think many people listen to the radio unless there's a ball game on.) Anyway, I did have a comment from someone at the awards assembly last night thanking me, and I received this email from the fire chief this morning, so maybe the internet is the best way to communicate these days.

Dear Dee,

I am Bill Graves the Snyder Fire Chief.Someone forwarded your email to me.Just thought I would send you an email to clarify the new storm sirens.These sirens are operated by radio.There is a new base radio in city hall and one in the fire station.The new sirens are located on the south part of town near the old Phillips 66 gas station and the second is located at the coop on the north end of town. the new base radios can activate the sirens for storm or fires.In the future we hope to get hand-held radios so that fireman out storm spotting can sound the sirens without having to go to city hall or the fire station. The old sirens are still hooked up to the switch in city hall.They can not be activated by radio and will only be used in case we need to amplify the new sirens. All sirens working together should give people much needed warning in case of tornadoes.In the future we would like to get away from using the sirens for fire calls.Just to alleviate any confusions.That will mean getting better hand-held radios that can page fireman also.
I would like to add that these new sirens were acquired through a grant that former city clerk Faye Dwyer and former councilman Allen Ford worked on for four years before their departure from city hall.It has taken a while to receive the grant but it finally came through.The sirens cost the city nothing.After all these years it is nice to have better sirens that also have battery back up.So if we loose power,we still have sirens.May we not need to use them in the near future.But if needed we can warn citizens of dnagers before it is too late.

Bill Graves
Fire Chief
Snyder Fire Department

I appreciate getting a response from someone in the know, with the correct information.

I had known there were supposed to be new sirens obtained from a grant, but never knew what had become of them. I'm glad they're finally being put to use.

I'd like to use this space to disseminate local information when I have it. Please let me know your thoughts on this method, and feel free to share my blog with others on your list.