Monday, June 3, 2013

Graduations

This week, our granddaughter, Madeleine, Leif's niece, will graduate from high school. I was thinking today about all the graduations that have taken place in our family, beginning with my parents, and how much hope, pride, gratitude and expectation are part of all that surrounds the event.

When Leif graduated from Manhattan High School in 1993, he was already taking classes at Kansas State University. He was the "cool dude," the one with the RX-7 (used) sports car, the one with a cell phone (very unusual at that time, and he paid the bills himself), the one with the long leather coat and the long luxurious hair that the guys hated and the girls loved.

High school was not an easy time for Leif. He had many ups and downs, as so many teens do. He was shy, but had to adjust to three different high schools. He fell in love, deeply, but it was not reciprocated. He had parts in two musicals and found he could sing and make the girls scream, but he couldn't get and keep the one(s) he wanted. He had his first job and earned his first paychecks, but squandered the money. He managed to get through school with minimal effort but not know what to do with his life.

But that day in 1993 when he graduated from high school, he was happy and we were proud. I think he thought life was going to get better, and be easier, and he would shine. I wish that had happened for him.

2 comments:

  1. I graduated from high school with Leif. We had a couple of classes together and I remember he was shy but also very smart and very sweet!!

    Five years ago I was searching the internet trying to find contact information for him to invite him to our 15-year high school reunion. I was deeply saddened to discover that he had passed away. Well, this weekend is our 20th high school reunion and we will be including Leif in the program along with other classmates who have passed away. I just wanted to let you know that he hasn't been forgotten by his classmates.

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  2. Hello, KS_Girl, thank you for remembering Leif. It's hard to believe it's been twenty years since he graduated from MHS (and 49 since I did).

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