Senior All-Night Party

Among other things, I spent the weekend painting a "mural" (sounds bigger/more impressive than it is) for our local high school's Senior Class All-Night Party. Although DD17 is still a junior, I got roped into helping by a friend who has run this event for the past few years.

The All-Night Party is supposed to provide a safe alternative to other forms of celebration (i.e., drinking) after graduation. The kids are locked into the school after graduation, along with food, activities, and lots of chaperones. They can't leave until morning or until a parent gets them. By all accounts, it's a good time. The cynic in me, however, feels that the drinking will just commence the next day. This year's class has quite a few problem kids, and has already been touched by a drinking tragedy.

The drinking death happened in the fall. That same week, a little girl in town died of cancer. The juxtaposition of those two events still strikes me now, months later. One group of kids recklessly took life for granted, and paid the price. And a little girl fought a valiant battle for her life, and lost.

Yes, I know life's not fair. We've learned that lesson. But it's painful to watch reckless teenagers thoughtlessly endanger themselves and others. Wouldn't it be nice if they would look around and view the battles being fought by kids who, through no fault of their own, have learned early that life is precious and fragile. My wish for this year's senior class is to appreciate the good health they have and not take it or life for granted.