Schools out

The year has ground down to a halt , but not before high drama drained us of our last drop of sanity , that I can not reveal on this site . Tex …………………what more can I say ? A lot , one day it’ll all come out in the wash . It was touch and go getting to his middle school graduation , but he got there Another chapter on American life has come to pass ; graduation day and all the ceremony that came with it .

We rocked up at Mira Costa in Emma’s little BMW , we had to , as Tex constantly tells me that my shit box Nissan is inappropriate for this town . Mira Costa will be High School for Tex starting in late August . High school starts at year 9 , I can’t emphasise enough how critical the next 12 months of Tex’s schooling life will have on our future in California. For tonight , it’s about relief and celebration ….and for finally putting names to faces and parents to their offspring. We meet in the school , it ‘s apparent early and with no surprise that this group of kids are white , privileged, good looking and have parents with the means to push them further . I know I keep playing this card …..but there is money and shit I do love the people watching that comes with it . We notice that many kids have leis around their necks and on closer inspection the Hawaiian flowers are not green and white but are instead notes …. yes cash , around their neck . This has me smugly laughing to myself “of course that’s what it is ” . We of course have no idea of these traditions , but it helps to fuel my inferiority complex and shit I do enjoy the crassness that comes with the territory. There’s dudes in sports suits , with dyed hair , botoxed faces , wife’s with blonde hair , high heels , more Botox and ample cleavage , you gotta love it .Shit, is this a celebration of our kids progressing to the next level or is it about Mum and dad showing that they’re important , either way I’m fascinated by the show .Eventually we get into the auditorium, it’s impressive , it’s large and I mean seriously large in comparison to Australian schools . The school brass band plays the tune ‘pomp and circumstance ‘ with the kids drifting down the aisles before filing into their seats on the main stage , remember they’re only year 8s . We then all rise to our feet to ‘the pledge of allegiance ‘, another novelty that I laugh to and enjoy ;you can tell us Aussies don’t take our patriotism too seriously . From here it becomes a grind ,as the next hour is filled with perfect kids , making perfect speeches , celebrating perfect scores , talking a perfect world and a perfect Hermosa …with awards , trophies , awards and more ……. awards . What really captured my attention was that some of the awards had monetary recognition ….ha ? With a little envelope attached , a warm applause and that oh so proud head nod from the gloating crowd of parents and supporters that made this richer than the sickliest of treacle …… Love it . Would this happen in Mornington ? Ahhh no . Eventually Tex is called to the front to receive his diploma , it’s met with the sound of a pin drop , that may indicate the reputation that he is developed . There is a year book with a little story on each kid , you could pay to get a full page spread ….ummm , yeah Tex didn’t get a full page spread . The next stage awaits , its High School . Tex has joined the football team ( grid iron ) , has to train for the next 6 weeks over his school break and we prey that he can find a way to strive that’s on the’ straight and narrow ‘ . It’s time to strap ourselves in , please let it be smoother that the tumultuous ride of the last 2 years of middle school ……. it’s over to you Tex .