ooohh Schertz, Texas!

So today was JR's graduation...my friend Jossie's younger brother. Today was such a sweet day in so many ways. One, because I see JR as the younger brother I never had. He has the biggest heart of anyone I know and he has allllwayyys shown that even when Jossie and I were mean to him. haha It was also sweet because Jossie and I hadn't hung out in a while and I consider them more than friends, they are family. We've known each other since I was in 6th grade and we have been bffs ever since. and I keep saying we because when I think of them it's everyone, mom dad jr and jossie. Jossie's mom might as well be my mom! but the deep deep reason I was inspired to blog today? GROWTH. 

This morning I was at a swim meet babysitting and I happened to see a football coach from my old high school and his family, I babysat his two boys and I just couldn't get over how much they had grown! and then the day just kept being filled with everyone growing. I sat at the graduation I thought I didn't know anyone but like 3 people graduating, turns out I was wrong! As I heard last names being called out, I was recognizing them and Jossie (who had been in highschool when these Seniors were coming in as sophomores) would be like "yes that's so and so's little brother/sister." I was sooo surprised because the kids walking the stage were my friends little brother or sister that I would see when I went to my friends when I was in like 5th and 6th grade or so. now they were graduating! it def made me feel old, but then also it got me thinking of good ol Schertz, Texas. the place we all "hated" and "wanted to get out of" I see it now and it really is a nice place to live in and we were all very lucky to have grown up in a small town that cared so much about each other, no matter what drama was going on. It made me really appreciate it! it's kind of sad because Schertz isn't my "home" anymore since my parents moved to San Antonio (I still say im from there though hehe) It made me go back to the day I left high school, and even though I graduated "because I couldn't be in high school one more year" I don't regret it, I just think about the Mariana back then, the one who wanted to conquer the world one kindergarner at a time. Now I have changed my major, but have fallen in love more with kids than I think I ever would have if I stayed in my education major. weird I know. The Mariana that had a huge heart and wasn't afraid to show it, I was an open book for the world to read. and now, I little more timid than I used to be at 18, a little more reserved when it comes to my heart, and I surely don't smile as often as I did back then. So now, I'm inspired to light that spark again, to be so innocent and ready to live and eager to see what was next in life. 

Schertz now holds a more special place in my heart. Last night I was talking with friends and the only reason why we were even friends is because we were introduced by people that went to our high school, even though we are years apart. That's how small this town is, everyone just meshes in. I used to see that as horrible, but I see a new beauty in it now. It's like this weird love-hate bond. I can't imagine my life without all the people I met there, and even to this day, I meet people because "they are so and so's cousin/brother/sister/etc who went to Clemens"(our high school). 

Thank you so much Schertz, Texas. For the wonderful memories, for the amazing friends I made ever since I was 7, (and that we are still in touch now, even if they moved, because of wonderful technology) for the "small town feeling" I've never felt anywhere else, for the times I rolled my eyes and said "oooh Schertz", for all the drama, all the tears, and all the laughs.