Graduation (Friends Forever)

So if we get the big jobs…
And we make the big money…
When we look back now…
Will our jokes still be funny?…
Will we still remember everything we learned in school…
Still be trying to break every single rule?…
Will little brainy Bobby be the stockbroker man?…
Can Heather find a job that won’t interfere with her tan?…
I keep, I keep thinking that it’s not goodbye…
Keep on thinking it’s a time to fly…

(Vitamin C-Graduation-Friends Forever)

So, yeah…as local goes, as local love goes, as the seasons come and go, so does graduation time. It seems like it was just a second ago that I was sitting at the graduation of my Cosmic Co-Ed’s Graham high school graduation. It was big tears, lots of memories, lots of what now? Lots of throwing myself into the early stages of Cosmic Charlie. Lots of bittersweet thoughts as she went on with college.

That was four years ago. She is graduating from my alma mater. She is graduating wearing the ribbons and sash from our shared sorority. Yes, alma mater AND same sorority. I was so proud when she became a college freshman, at my college, and pledged sorority in my sorority. She had the exact college experience as I had down in the most beautiful college town and campus in Kentucky. I became entrenched in going back, active in alum sorority events, reconnecting with my Kentucky ties. Once you are a part of Kentucky, it remains in your heart, forever. I have bonded with her sorority sisters. Was voted sorority mom of the year. She thrived and took her department by storm. Just like she was such a vibrant part of this local scene, she became a vibrant part of the local scene, down in Richmond.

As kids go, she’s a pretty special girl. She is my only child. She overcame a whole lot in her young life. She went through major heart surgery at 6 months old, and major back surgery when she was in 6th grade. She defied all odds. She went on to enter school at age 4, and thrive. She went on to take her back surgery, and make it a positive. She retrained herself in gymnastics. She cheered varsity football and basketball back in the heyday that was Graham’s super basketball seasons. As exciting as the games were, nothing excited me more, or moved me to tears than to watch her do backflips up and down the court. Not many people knew what she had to overcome to be out there, doing what she loved.

When people talk about heroes, she is all I can think about. Hands down, she is one of my greatest heroes and inspiration. She never gave up, never let things get to her, she knows how to keep pushing, she is goal oriented, and she is the best of the best.

So, tomorrow, is graduation for the class of 2015 at Eastern Kentucky University. It is so emotion packed for me. She is trying to say goodbye to her sisters and friends of the past 4 years. Once Richmond captures your heart, it’s very hard to pull away. She is looking at the roads she would like to travel, next. I am saying goodbye to the campus beautiful, one last time.

It’s a love and pride and dedication. Much of what this little local market of love exists on…love, pride, dedication. Lives change, new paths are explored, we leave, we return, we love, we lose, we grow…it all happens, and it all happens in a local fabric. Local love is everywhere…make this local love mean something to you. Place a market order, get to know who your local faces are, what we stand for, what we are trying to accomplish…

Tonight, I open the market to the many local and seasonal products!! We’ve got it all!! Take advantage…being local was never so easy. Show your pride, your love, your dedication…

Peace, Love, Good Vibes…
Cosmic Pam