5 And A Beagle
"Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans." John Lennon
Sunday, June 12, 2005
No Knitting + ... What Was I Thinking?
Nothing new on the knitting or sewing front this weekend. This was the weekend of festivities celebrating my eldest's graduation from high school. Friday morning was the Mass at school - an enjoyable ceremony. Saturday evening was the dinner dance at a ballroom in this beautiful convention center in Vancouver. It was a great evening. A wonderful opportunity to share with the students and other families as they all celebrate reaching this point in their journey of life. After the grad dinner and dance - the After Grad.
Way back in September or October, there was a meeting at the school to update all of us parents on the plans for the grade 12 year. I remember putting my name down as a volunteer for something, I thought it was to assist with the breakfast that one of the families had generously offered to host. I somehow ended up, however, volunteering to be a chaperone at the After Grad. (if only I could put sound affects so that each time you read those two words, music would play that would send shivers up your spine)
After Grad was from 1:30 to 5:30 AM!! in a restaurant downtown. The kids had maybe 60 to 90 minutes to get from the grad dinner to the after grad. Both festivities being dry, (no alcohol) some took advantage of this time to drink. Some foolish ones took this time to drink copious amounts of alcohol. Some probably for the first time. While we waited for the arrival of the kids, the proprietor of the restaurant told the chaperones, (all 3 of us) about the events of the night before with another school. Lots of vomit, one 911 call for an ambulance and one 911 call for the cops. I think it was at that point that I truly questioned my sanity. Why was I there.
Suffice it to say that our group wasn't as bad as the night before, but they were no angels either. These kids were checked at the door and lots of bottles were confiscated. Many with protestations that it was only water. Sure, water that smells remarkably like rum. Even after the check at the door, there were random checks in the washroom and more bottles were found. If you're ever in the enviable position to be a chaperone at one of these events.. a word to the wise - check under their hats. A girl that had already had her first bottle taken at the door, got caught in the bathroom with her back up bottle. How did she get it in, she was wearing a fedora and it was tucked under the hat on her head. In the end; some vomit, one 911 call for an ambulance and four parents called to pick up their very ill kids.
Lesson learned - there's no way my two younger daughters are going to their after grads unless their dad or I are a chaperone, AND - a lengthy discussion (again) on the dangers of excessive drinking. It's difficult enough for them to make wise choices, but add alcohol to the mix and it's worse.
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Way back in September or October, there was a meeting at the school to update all of us parents on the plans for the grade 12 year. I remember putting my name down as a volunteer for something, I thought it was to assist with the breakfast that one of the families had generously offered to host. I somehow ended up, however, volunteering to be a chaperone at the After Grad. (if only I could put sound affects so that each time you read those two words, music would play that would send shivers up your spine)
After Grad was from 1:30 to 5:30 AM!! in a restaurant downtown. The kids had maybe 60 to 90 minutes to get from the grad dinner to the after grad. Both festivities being dry, (no alcohol) some took advantage of this time to drink. Some foolish ones took this time to drink copious amounts of alcohol. Some probably for the first time. While we waited for the arrival of the kids, the proprietor of the restaurant told the chaperones, (all 3 of us) about the events of the night before with another school. Lots of vomit, one 911 call for an ambulance and one 911 call for the cops. I think it was at that point that I truly questioned my sanity. Why was I there.
Suffice it to say that our group wasn't as bad as the night before, but they were no angels either. These kids were checked at the door and lots of bottles were confiscated. Many with protestations that it was only water. Sure, water that smells remarkably like rum. Even after the check at the door, there were random checks in the washroom and more bottles were found. If you're ever in the enviable position to be a chaperone at one of these events.. a word to the wise - check under their hats. A girl that had already had her first bottle taken at the door, got caught in the bathroom with her back up bottle. How did she get it in, she was wearing a fedora and it was tucked under the hat on her head. In the end; some vomit, one 911 call for an ambulance and four parents called to pick up their very ill kids.
Lesson learned - there's no way my two younger daughters are going to their after grads unless their dad or I are a chaperone, AND - a lengthy discussion (again) on the dangers of excessive drinking. It's difficult enough for them to make wise choices, but add alcohol to the mix and it's worse.
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