06.02.05 - 2:31 pm

What a night.

It's starting to feel weird. While I was slumped in my incredibly comfortable chair last night at the Memorial Coliseum (I would have died without all of that padding) I started thinking back to 8th grade "Promotion" and how small and inconsequential that was. It's just high school, I thought. I dragged myself across the stage very relaxed and not really caring about what was going on. High school is not a big deal. I didn't cry, I didn't pull something weird in accepting my diploma, I just went through it, as countless other seniors have done and will continue to do. I did stand up for every cord possible (except partial IB because, well, I'm full). The only teacher I stopped to say goodbye to was Jenkins because I didn't really think that doing any of that mattered. I'll see these people again.

The party was fun. Rock climing, sumo suits, raffles, they had it all. I got two henna tattoos that I look at every chance I get. Rebecca and I have matching ones on our wrists. I've also got one on the small of my back. I won a pair of boxers (that I slept in and am still wearing now), I ate beef for the first time in three years, and I saw a hypnotist that made me laugh so hard that I was crying. I jumped out to the busses, slept on the way back to Lincoln, and drove five people to four different houses with a broken car. As we were leaving Lincoln, Ezra (I think) said something about how this is it, we'll never see most of these people again, and the ones we do see will only be by our choosing. That's the part that hasn't hit me yet. I wont see most of those people this summer, I wont see any of them in college. If I'm lucky I'll see Dross every now and then and maybe some people at Oregon when we play their team. That's the most difficult part of it all, not being able to be with these people ever again. It doesn't matter if I'm friends with them; I've spent 13 years with some of these people.

Unfortunately, there's some people we wont see ever again:

Dear Students, Staff and Parents,

I have some very sad news to share. Last night senior Matt Neyhart
died in an automobile accident. He was the passenger in a car with some
other students who are not from Lincoln. The other students in the car
did not have serious injuries.

We have very little information right now, and I will try to share more
later in the day or tomorrow. Matt was known by many students and
staff. He was an aide in the main office.

I realize some students, staff and parents, especially those who knew
Matt well, will have a very hard time with this news. The counseling
staff will be available all day. We are asking teachers of seniors to
stop by the counseling office when they do not have a class to help with
support.

Parents of seniors: I encourage you to let your students know about
this tragedy as soon as possible. Seniors are welcome to come to
Lincoln, if they want to talk to staff or each other.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Matt's family.

Sincerely,

Peter Hamilton

Well, here's to you, Class of 2005. May you have an awesome, awesome life :D

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