Graduation Thoughts

Now, I'm not normally a country music fan.
But, as I was driving home last night I came across this song on the radio and I just had to hear it out.

Listen to it here.

Part of the lyrics go like this,
"You're gonna miss this. 
You're gonna want this back.
You're gonna wish these days 
Hadn't gone by so fast.
...You may not know it now.
But you're gonna miss this."

And so as I was driving, I thought about it for a little bit.
And I came to the conclusion that that song was wrong.
Because...
I do know it now.

Oh, baby, am I gonna miss this.

For the longest time packing up and going away to college has just been one of those little visions hanging out in the back of my mind. Like, you know, someday I'll get there, and it'll be sooooo cool. Yeah. College, man.

And then of course when people ask me things like,
"So how is your senior year going?"
I always give the cliche answer,
"It's going well. So ready for it to be over though! I can't wait."

Mmmm.
Am I?

Truth is, I don't know.
I know this is a part of life.
This is just how it works.
At some point, you move on.
But I don't think it really hit me until last night.
Like, for real for real.

I'm graduating in less than three months.
I've been in school for 13 years.
And in less than three months, it will all be over.

I'm the last child in my home to graduate.
After me, my parents will be done with the school thing.
All of their kids will be....adults.

As excited as I am to have accomplished this incredible task,
I'm gonna miss this.

I'm going to miss eating popcorn on Sunday nights.
And walking that stupid dog in the freezing rain.
Doing dishes three days a week, and fighting with my sister over whose turn it is,
Eating oreos while watching the biggest loser,
Driving to that church every Sunday morning at 9:10,
Sitting on the stage a block from my house and singing, dancing, crying, writing, thinking, praying,
Letting Mom know every time I get there and exactly when I'm leaving,
Texting Dad from across the room just to irritate him,
Attending every single camp event that occurs,
Going to Mimi's every week and answering the question,
"So what's going on in your life and what can I pray for?"
Watching Little House on the Prairie for history class, even though I hate it,
Putting my name on the blanks next to the chores I want to do off the list,
Running to Macomb,
Staying up past everyone else to watch the end of the Cardinals game with Dad,
Being the best baker in the house,
Watching stupid shows with Mom and Meg, like Animal Hoarders and You're Cut Off,
Hanging out with my favorite Jr. High girls every Monday at 6:00,
Dancing in the kitchen.

Yeah, baby. That's my life.
That's how I live.

I love it.

And I know this whole packing up and leaving home thing is just part of life.
And really, I'm super excited about it.

But this is not new information.
These are all natural feelings.
And I'm sure it's nothing you've never heard before.

I'm just gonna miss all this, you know?