What a busy weekend! Jessie's 18th Birthday was Friday. So was the volleyball tournament honoring the Katrina seniors that lost their volleyball season. She wanted to go out for chop - chop (hibachi) after the game - but the restaurant was closed... so we all (8 of us) ended up at the house where I grilled steaks. While unexpected - it was fun and I think Jessie enjoyed it and her presents.
Saturday morning the tournament continued with our first match at 8. Even I was there early- I was not going to miss a moment of Jessie's volleyball "season" and it would also be our last high school athletic event. The girls played well and enjoyed doing it. Jessie is the only senior on the team and it did my heart good to see her in her red uniform as captain.
And especially with her number 19. The team played hard and was very enthusiastic... it was a taste of what could have been and brought closure for the seniors, who lost so much this year.
The last game in the last match was a killer. It went to the third game and instead of going to the usual 15 points (for the 3rd game) it was in the 20s. Nail biting on all sides - but our team lost. They had to forfeit their next match because of May Day, but that was ok. As satisfying as it would have been to stay - it was off to complete yet another school tradition.
May Day is an event where the Sophomores write and put on a skit for the Seniors. The Third grade does the May Pole dance and the results of the votes for May Queen are revealed. The theme this year was Board Games and was very clever... they revealed the names of the May Queen and Maids with giant Scrabble pieces. May Queen is voted on by the school and it is to honor a student that is other wise not recognized. For example she is not on the student council or holds any other position. It is a great honor.
It started out as a disaster. The hairdresser was running late. Jessie's appointment was for 3 and he did not start her until 3:30. She had to be at school for photos by 4:30. I couldn't take her as Bob and I were meeting with the new adjuster... other wise I would have wrung his neck. He stopped doing her hair to finish another client. Jessie did not show up at school until 5 - so stressed out she was almost in tears and she HATED her hair. One of the pearl drop earrings she was going to wear broke (the pearl fell off) and of course it was all my fault... but she looked gorgeous.
I wasn't thrilled with the flowers - but then who cares in the long run?
The skit was very clever and entertaining - with references to Fema and Katrina...a day is not complete if they aren't mentioned! And our daughter was radiant through it all.
The May Pole dance was done the best I have ever seen in all my years at the school. Coach Val is the one who taught them and it was just about perfect. 
I have got to figure out how to do my photos better... At any rate after the dance they announce the Queen and Court. Jasmine was the Queen and it was well deserved. The exit was poignant because Jessie was the last to be escorted out, but she also had two escorts. Alexis on the left was new to the volleyball team and Jessie had taken her under her wing. Ayanna, on the right is still in Virginia and flew in especially for the tournament and May Day and more importantly, to escort Jessie. Ayanna played volleyball and soccer with Jessie and it was a poignant moment. At least she didn't sob like Andy did last year!
There was a nice light dinner at a parent's house - but we skipped out early with Skylar to have dinner at a neighborhood restaurant. What a great weekend for Jessie.
Mother's day passed quietly. Andy was in bed all day with tonsillitis (not strep but maybe mono - yikes!) Jessie completed a paper that was due and I planted the remaining bushes because the guy that helps me didn't show up. Skylar, Bob and I had dinner at the Bourbon House - a Brennan restaurant I have been wanting to go to. It was OK - and I won't be wanting to go there again any time soon, but we had fun and everyone got along just fine... so it was a happy mother's day!
The biggest gift we all got was a wonderful article (full page!) and a large photo of Jessie in the Times - Picayune Sunday morning. Bob even left the gym early to bring it to me!
article - http://www.nola.com/search/index.ssf?/base/sports-23/11475928503030.xml?nola
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