Speech by Mary Squicciarini
Well, I had a dream last night that I got up here in front of everybody and said, “Happy Birthday!” instead of “Congratulations!”… so, to get that off my back, Congrats Christine!
Ok, so to tell the truth, when Christine told us we needed to put together speeches for her graduation, I started to feel desperate! I literally could not think of anything to write. My mind was completely blank. I did however manage to throw together a few stories and facts about Christine that I thought I’d share…
Christine has always been the life of the party, she never gives up. She’s always pushing to do more than what’s necessary. She loves to knit, cook, swim, and I don’t know why, but she’s always wanted to try water-skiing and surfing! <shrugs shoulders> She’s an incredible artist, which brings me to this story I remember. One day Christine was painting this picture of a fish, <pause for effect> and it was beautiful. Blues and purples and greens and reds and oranges. It truly was amazing! I remember hoping she would hang it in our room somewhere, because it was so gorgeous! So you can imagine my surprise when I found it in our trashcan later on… our trashcan… yeah. I was horrified! Why would she throw such an amazing picture in the garbage?! I asked her why she threw it out, and she said she thought it looked like a dead fish on a table cloth. Oh please! It totally did not… but I still hung it up in our room… she still says she hates it, and she won’t even sign it <incredulous looks>!!
Anyway, I remember when Christine and I used to take art lessons together, and how I would always try my hardest to make whatever I was doing look just like hers, because Christine’s, was always the best! I didn’t what it was that she was doing… when I took art lessons from Christine, I finally realized what it was… she was talented and I wasn’t! That’s it! Whenever I wanted to start a picture, or a painting, I would always want to skip ahead to the fun part, the painting part. But Christine always slowed me down, made me stop and work out what was wrong. “Mary I think your perspective is a little off,” or “Mary I think your horizon line’s a little low. “<looks daggers at Christine> but at the same time as she was criticizing our work, she was also trying to encourage us to go for what we felt, to express ourselves, and to create our own style in what we did. And that is what Christine has done. She has created a style of her own throughout her life, and it is very different to her surroundings. She has a flair and uniqueness to everyone I know, and that is what makes her who she is; that’s what makes her to likable and funny.
So, while I was writing this speech, I decided to put together a list of things Christine and I had in common. Unfortunately and surprisingly, that list didn’t get very far. Actually it was extremely short. So, I put together a list of things we disagreed on, and that list grew and grew and grew! Things I didn’t even understand, like, I’ve always been more of a mountain kind of person, and Christine likes the beach. She says she’s addicted to beach. And you know that feeling you get when you’re out in the sun and you’re hot, and sweaty, and when you close your eyes all you can see is red. Christine actually likes that feeling! I hate that! I like to make snowmen in the winter, and she doesn’t even like snow! :-O So, we’re not exactly alike… contrary to popular belief.
But as I grow older, I do find myself becoming more and more like my sisters. Like this one time I remember Christine broke a nail and seemed to make the biggest deal out of it. We actually started making fun of her because it was such a huge deal… and then I found myself doing the same thing. <sigh> I was like “Oh no! I’m turning into Christine!”, but, but… then I realized it was a good thing right?…. right. She has become such a role model to me, and to others too, and I just want to say that, even though you’ve made some mistakes Christine… quite a few of them… I love you anyway, and in the words of King Louie from Jungle Book, “I wanna be just like you!” Congratulations!
