Picking up the cap and gown

Today was the day that Catherine officially turned in anything school issued and picked up her cap and gown.  They had it all set up so that you just drove the route around the school parking lot and never had to get out of the vehicle.  Andrew had mentioned to me last week that teachers were invited to come and cheer for the students as a show of support.  I think he would've gone had he been in town.  I decided to drive Catherine because we were going to leave straight from there and go to see my mom and work at my grandmother's house.  As we were driving there, I couldn't stop the tears.  I hadn't been to the school since I walked out my last day of work 8-1/2 weeks ago.  This wasn't how I had wanted our spring to go, and it wasn't how I wanted my daughter to finish her schooling.  I wanted to make sure this was all about Catherine, and yet at the same time I was so happy to see all the adults I had been so used to seeing every day.  It all just made me so emotional.  The school did a fabulous job of trying to make it special.  There was even a gift bag payed for from class fundraising.  After we picked up things at the school, we then drove to a business in town to retrieve more gifts from a community effort that was put together at the last minute.  It really truly was as special as it could possibly be.  We will be taking pictures this week of her in her gown. I think she looks absolutely amazing.