Addie McDowell

A few of my many memories with her throughout the years.

Each day is a day closer to you leaving. It’s a day closer to tech week without you, and a day closer to football, soccer, and basketball games without you. As we get closer to you leaving, I have a few promises that I need to make to you.

I promise to make sure that the actors in theater always are up to their full potential and that the crew stays in line. I don’t think I’ll ever be half of the Student Director that you are, but I promise to try my best and to keep everyone under control. I promise to not let anyone touch the prop tables and to make sure that nobody eats on the stage. I promise to make sure TCT stays how it’s always been, and I promise to take the most incredible photos, even though I’ll have to do it without you by my side. I promise I’ll keep Micah and Ella quiet, or I’ll at least try. I promise I’ll visit your dad at least a few times a week, even if it’s just talking to him when I pass him in the hallway. I promise that even though I’m used to doing all of these things with you, I’ll try my best to do them without you.

I know that you’re not going to be here for my senior year like I was for yours. I know that I’m going to have to learn to navigate theater without you, which I’ve never done before. I know that I’m going to have to find someone else to hang up posters with and that I’m going to have to drive myself home from rehearsal. I’m going to have to find someone else to go to football games with, and take pictures of numerous sunsets without you. I hope you know that nobody could ever take your place even if I find someone else to do these things with.

As of writing this, we’re only a couple of months away from you leaving, and we’re only about three weeks away from our last show day. I keep envisioning the last show. Every time I imagine it, I imagine my tear-filled eyes as I watch you and the other seniors do their final bows. I imagine hugging you throughout the entire show and crying throughout all of tech week. I know that I’m going to miss you next year.

I hope you know that I cherish every hug in the hallway like it might be our last. I cherish every conversation and laugh that we share. I cherish every moment that we have together.

I know that you deserve to move on. You’ve spent the past four years here, and you deserve to spend your next four somewhere new. You deserve to fulfill your dreams. You deserve to move on and, no matter how much time passes, please don’t forget to remember me.