Every graduating year has a “song” that symbolizes their year. Whether it was Vitamin C’s “Graduation Song” , Green Day’s “Good Riddance (Time of my life)” or “Bittersweet Symphony” by The Verve, the dedicated song usually summed up our thoughts, emotions, experiences, stories, friendships and memories made together from the five years we just spent together in a melodic symphony of notes and words. Even 23 years later, when I hear our song, I pause and listen to the whole thing, mouthing every word verbatim, reminiscing at the thought that I’ve come so far, I made it through high school and all that followed to date. Our song was “Everybody’s free (to wear sunscreen)” by Baz Luhrmann (thank you Napster for allowing us to download unreleased music). It played during our final assembly together as we watched a slideshow of our graduating year together. I was crying, not because I was sad, but because I was overwhelmed at the thought that I’m almost an adult now, and will be...

I don’t think the novelty of exchanging messages during class has changed THAT much between the 1990s and today, has it? Perhaps just HOW it’s done? Let’s compare and contrast on the chart below, shall we... From cave drawings to computer drawings... I wonder what's next? Er, I mean, WTNM? Love, Grace HOMEWORK: 1. IF YOU WERE BORN IN 1981 OR BEFORE: Define all the acronyms from the 2020 texts like you are in the 1990s (aka no Googling or asking kids born after the year 2000) a.) AFAICT: b.) HIF: c.) OMDB: d.) ADIH: e.) NAGI 2. IF YOU WERE BORN AFTER 1981: Answer the following without using the internet in ANY CAPACITY a.) What is tomorrow’s weather supposed to be like? b.) What day of the week is Christmas on this year? c.) How many liters are in a gallon? d.) What is the 2nd highest mountain in the world? e.) What is the name of that guy, in the movie with that actress… you know, directed by that person who did that other movie with the other actress?

In 1983, Patricia's parents moved her and her brother to a beautiful sleepy suburb in the "city that fun forgot." With its political feel, conservative downtown architecture, cookie cutter suburbanite homes and street names that were hard to pronounce – she was home. Patricia’s first day of school was in November when the school year was already well underway -- relationships had formed, cubbies assigned and meet and greets come and gone. Patricia was a shy kid to begin with, but was excitedly looking forward to her new school. Thank goodness she spoke French already (merci Grande-Île dans le Québec!) and was ready for the next "chapitre". The big yellow school bus came rumbling down her new street and stopped in front of her house. She was nervous about getting on, but her Mom gently encouraged her up the stairs with her little brother in tow. Patricia's Mom was also a teacher and knew all too well how to navigate a young mind full of five-year-old emotions...