Now and Then

Friday we went to our first granddaughter’s high school graduation.  The day before, DeRay turned 80.  We thought we were rushing things a bit but, hey, things are as they are.  Ha!  When we went to our own children’s high school graduations, we ran into friends going to their grandchildren’s graduation.  Going to Brigitte’s graduation, there are friends our children’s ages going to their grandchildren’s graduation and our friends are attending their great grandchildren's ceremonies.  We’ve always been out-of-step but who’s dancing?  Quality is our motto.

Brigitte, a high honors graduate with a Presidential Scholarship at Utah State University, done us proud.  She’s been president of the orchestra, president of the debate club and was awarded Best Debate Student in the Region, and last but not least, president of her seminary class.  Both she and her dad talked in seminary graduation.  In Junior High, each year the faculty selects a group of top ninth graders who are top scholars, good citizens, and have participated in a diversity of school activities.  Brigitte was chosen as the #1 Student in the School, earning the First Falcon Award, as well as Outstanding French Student.

Brigitte graduated with 705 students from Davis High School, who were celebrating their 100^th graduation.  Both of her parents graduated from Davis.  It was held at the Dee Events Center at Weber State University.  Ninety-seven percent of the seniors graduated.  Isaak says he has over 900 in his class at Davis.  He's wondering where they'll hold their graduation exercises.  What will the traffic be like then?  Friday with 705 graduates, 1,410 parents, 11,280 grandparents, etc., all leaving Kaysville at approximately the same time, Highway 89 was bumper to bumper and a 15-20 minute drive took almost an hour.  Getting out of the parking lot was another story.

Brigitte with Grandma and Grandpa

Brigitte with Siblings:  Isaak, Karlton, Klarissa

Opa, Brigitte, Oma

My favorite picture.

A far cry from my high school graduation.  Guess.  Thirteen students.  (All these years, I've been saying there were twelve in my graduating class.  Running a copy of the program, DeRay counted 13.  I stand corrected.  Five got married before high school graduation; one didn't qualify to graduate--although he's been very successful; two went north to school; and one died our junior year--I'm just remembering.  Mary Lee, LaRue, and I played a clarinet trio in her funeral.  The other girls, holding flowers, lined up on each side of the walk going into the church. I can still remember walking past them and wishing I were a flower girl instead of playing the clarinet.  Have you ever tried playing an instrument when you're sad?)

Besides the caliber of education and class-size differential of 692 students, Brigitte had all her grandparents attend her graduation ceremony.  I knew none of my grandparents.  Only two were alive when I was born. Grandpa Esplin died three months later and Grandma Heaton died six months after that. 
     I’ll bet Brigitte didn’t have to write her own graduation program, build and decorate the stage.  No way, hers could have been held in a church house.  “Came back home and curled Mama’s hair.  Went down to church house and we practiced.  It went perfect.  Mr. Hansen and Mr. Bauer were really impressed (first time our faculty advisers had seen it).  We then decorated.”  May 21, 1954  “Oh, that was a wonderful day!  Happy day Thursday too, when I was marching along in the band over at the Kanab Race Meet and noticed DeRay on the sidelines.  (He was in the Army; Basic and Officers Training at Fort Ord; surprise furlough before shipping out to Germany.)  He added so much to graduation and made it seem so much more special.”
     Ironically, Highway 89 runs through Orderville, home of Valley High School, too.  No traffic jam at my high school graduation.  (Three students from Orderville, five from Alton, two from Mt. Carmel, and three from Glendale.)

Jeanette Esplin, front left; Bruce Hoyt, Mary Lee Esplin

CONGRATULATIONS LOVELY GRANDDAUGHTER.

We’ve come a long ways.

And the guys are leaving for missions rather than the army.
(Only one per ward per year was allowed to go on missions then.)