"I slept in my dress..." Graduation 2012

  Let's backtrack, shall we? In my very first blog post my graduation countdown clock was at 105 days, that doesn't even seem real at this point. Within the past month, The Pekarskys tackled two kids and two graduations in two weekends. I personally still can not see a champagne bottle without getting a headache. As it should be, my graduation was up first. 
  After three hours of sleep, partially due to nerves and partially due to the sheer terror that my spray tan was going to go horribly wrong, I was up and ready to get across the stage or rather carpeted ramp horrible idea UT, horrible. In true "I'm pretty but awkward" Caroline fashion, I walked right out of my heel with my first step across stage and my own adviser mispronounced my name. It's these things that make moments memories, right? everyone say "right" Then it was on to the fun stuff, like finding your parents and every 21 year old girls favorite thing, pictures! After FINALLY stepping on the seal and then getting smack in the middle of it for pictures it was on to The Orangery for brunch. After being asked if I was 21 by the waitress, no I'm a child prodigy who just graduated college I finally got my champagne toast and an amazing brunch full of laughter and no tears! After brunch it was off to pick up the MOST amazing cupcakes of all time The Cup, my mother is now obsessed and $38 worth of balloons, you only graduate college once right? everyone say "right" Fast forward to 5pm, I'm still in my dress but with Rainbow flip flops instead of those jinxed heels, hmm about 7 bottles of champagne down, embarrassing childhood stories being told, my mom planning me and my best guy friend's wedding, yeah I think it's official, I graduated college. All details of what happened later that night will be left out for everyone's dignity but some highlights were definitely running in the street with balloons "it's like I'm in a Coach commercial", eating Taco Bell one last time, sleeping in my dress on top of my Steeplechase hat, and the walk to get hungover sweet tea the next morning also if you run for your car the cops won't give you a ticket or they just felt sorry for us, I even felt sorry for us. Thank God I packed like three days in advance or else I would have never made it home the next day. The car ride home was priceless and for the last time we stopped at Exit 423 Taco Hell. 

  It's probably for the best and for his safety that Joe wasn't  able to attend the festivities that were my graduation due to senior exams, but no worries I was there for his! It's weird watching your little brother graduate, I half expected the 5 year old version of Joe in his K-Mart basketball outfit to walk across the stage. He didn't trip and by the grace of God and 700 million candles in the Our Lady of Lake chapel he graduated high school. Of course my favorite part was taking pictures and mom captured some real gems there will be quite a race for Pekarsky Christmas card picture this year. So we survived: two kids, two graduations, two weekends, and done. The next life events will be Joe's college graduation and weddings, better start saving up for balloons now! So here's to you old Tennessee my Alma Mater true, now send me my diploma.