Another assembly

I'm really tired, and i have a long day ahead tomorrow- so this won't be the post it should be.

We went to Vinnies Graduation Ceremony today... and it reminded me of every assembly i've ever been to of hers - that was probably most if not all of them.

I know in the back of our minds, there was that thought that crept in the silences and got pushed away periodically... the great space where we all knew- there was something massive missing, a piece that made it kinda incomplete.

Mum, i remember all those times you'd wake me up - sometimes from barely any sleep- make me drag my aching self and my camera, whichever i could find... and go to all those oh-so-important life events of Vinnies. When i look back, i see that you tried to make up for her, all that you missed of us. When we were young, you and dad were always too busy to be at anything... for her you made up for it - by doing and being EVERYTHING.

I told you so many times, that if you let go - she'll be fine. She always played dumber than she ever was... haha...

We missed you today. More than we had words to say so we let it float off in between the sentences.

Everyone says she looks like dad, but today she was pieces of you too.

When you let go of her at 16, the only way you knew how to- i know you were scared... but look at her now.

I told you she'd make it.

And don't worry - i'm still there -watching and documenting every precious moment : P


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Because i was a little nostalgic and plenty bored, (not that i didn't want to be there, i wouldn't have missed it for anything- but speeches at graduations are infamously dull and i struggled to stay awake for much of it) anyway-  i really noticed this Mum sitting next to Alex, who kept grinning this insanely proud grin, clapping extra hard, and being very patient with her daughter who looked half pissed off every time she saw her mother.

When i saw them outside- the mum taking photos with her iphone as the daughter looked annoyed and kept checking the photo and getting retakes, i asked Vinnie for a pen- asked them to wait for me a sec and did something utterly random.

I asked the girl if she had an email address, took it down- used my camera and her iphone to take photos of her (alone) and her With her mother and told them i'd email my shots it to them.

How much she asked.

What? no for nothing. Just for your mum.

I think she was really confused. As was Alex, Vinnie and dad.

Alls i can say is peeps, -you only have one set of parents... and if they annoy you sometimes and fuss over the wrong things, it's coz they want everything to be perfect for you.

One day, you're going to miss that. Regrets are useless things. So just right now, smile. Breathe. Enjoy the moments.

Hope you like the photos Mrs. Al-mandawi. :)