last night was one of the greatest of my life. for five hours, people came and hugged and brought gifts and said, "wow, you've done a great job, and we love you." former teachers, distant relatives, old baby-sitters, and friends came to wish me the best. and honestly. i just loved every minute of it. and everything was good. and the people who hated each other got along for my sake. they even exchanged a few words. and that is, undoubtedly, one of the greatest things anyone could ever do for me.
tonight i will walk across a stage and a man that i hate will give me a piece of paper which is worth more to me than most other inanimate objects. because i made it. i survived. and now it's over.
