Graduation

Last night was the local high school graduation. My beloved and I were there because several of the "kids" (the salutatorian informed us they were now "adults") from our church were graduating. I enjoy things like graduations, because while I would argue that maybe they're not quite adults yet, high school graduation is definitely a huge milestone. A rite of passage towards adulthood. It's nice to be able to witness that, especially for young people we've been working with since 7th grade. And what do I know? Maybe they're more adult than I realise. Certainly many of them handled themselves with more poise than some members of the audience.

Don't get me wrong; I'm all for celebrating accomplishments like graduating. I'm all for hooting and hollering for your graduate. The louder, the better--let them know you're cheering for them! Here's my beef: air horns. Not one, but two men with air horns were sitting in our section, one right behind the other. (They were both sounding them at the same time, for the same graduates.) I was startled, but otherwise ok after the first few blasts. However, after the seventh or eighth graduate they "celebrated" thus, I seriously thought fluid was coming out of my ears. A young girl next to me started crying after a particularly loud blast.

If there are any of you reading this who are air horn aficianados, I hope you'll forgive my rant. Please, please, please: if small children are crying, and those around you are visibly starting with every blast, if people are rubbing their ears and are no longer paying attention to the ceremony because they are watching your trigger finger to see when the next blast is coming, perhaps you could consider putting the air horn away for the evening.

Anyway, rant over. Congrats to all graduates out there--we're proud of you. I'd sit next to an air horn any day for you!

Gradjimitation

Well, it's finally here. Graduation weekend. The big she-bang. The weekend kicked off with my sister-in-law's graduation from college. Unfortunately for her, the big ceremony got rained out, and she missed Pomp and Circumstance. Thanks to cheesey cards with music (courtesy of moi) she can now hear it whenever she wants. I wonder if Elgar regrets composing that one. Hmm.

Yesterday, the festivities continued with Hubba Hubba's graduation from seminary. I must say, he looked rather dashing in his cap, gown and hood. He looked even more dashing receiving a prize for top papers in Church History!

After some hugging, and crying (on my part, not his) and lots of picture taking, we had lunch with some friends and family. Then off to the BIG FAMILY PARTY. That gets all caps because in my beloved's family, a party is always a big thing. Think "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" minus the wedding ceremony, change the Greek family to an Italian one, and you've got the picture. There was, naturally, entirely too much delicious food, but lots of fun and laughter. My parents even drove all the way down to join in on the fun.

Gradjimitation Weekend continues for one more day--the all-important "leftover day" where we happily consume what's left of the sandwiches, meatballs, sausage, pulled pork, and goodies that we couldn't pawn off on departing family members. All this after a big asparagus and egg breakfast at the firehall. My jeans may not fit me by the end of the food-filled festivites, but it's all for a good cause: celebration.