Wasn't That A Party 2 !?!
A week after the first celebration, we geared up for another. My daughter graduated from her program in Sign Language Interpretation yesterday.
We had to be on the road very early - we went in a convoy. She was allowed three guests, because the auditorium only seated 300, but she was quite sure she could fit her whole entourage in the seats - she has very long eyelashes.
It was raining like November all the way in. I was worried because I had dressed for summer and didn't relish the thought of sitting all that time in wet clothes and damp feet. But she found us a parking spot right across the street - with one hour parking. We questioned the wisdom of parking there for four hours, but she was quite sure that we wouldn't get a ticket, because "they NEVER check", and trusting her long eyelashes again, we parked and ran across the street, clutching umbrellas to shield us from the rain. We made it inside with the minimum of water damage.
Once inside, the line up was already forming to enter the auditorium. We were happy that we had made it in such good time, because it looked like we would be in the running for seats. The graduate signed off for three seats. Meantime, some of the party went off to find Timmies. They needed to top up their caffeine levels, in case they had to put an ear to the door to listen to the proceedings. While there, we enjoyed the jazz trio that was playing live music in the foyer. A celebratory atmosphere was in the air.
Eventually, the graduate came up, waving an extra three tickets. She let Grampa have one, so he didn't have to watch by close-circuit tv. Her two friends got the others and did a happy dance.
We all went into the auditorium and found our seats, saved by the only member of the party who didn't move for three hours - my husband. We enjoyed music by the pianist - who had the strangest posture I've ever seen.
He hunched over the piano, and only moved his hands within one octave for every song he played.
The beginning of the ceremony was heralded by a the bagpipes. The graduates filed in and took their places on the stage with the staff. There were a couple of speeches: "Find your path; blaze the trail; remember your roots here at this fine establishment; create community, .......", and then the graduates began crossing the stage to receive their congratulations and papers. We were allowed to hoot and holler which I did. (more fun than last graduation for which we had received written instructions from my son's school about how we were to refrain from hooting and hollering and be circumspect)
I figured she worked hard enough for it, she should get some old-fashioned WAHOOING! My husband good-naturedly ignored that lady in the seat beside him.
My daughter's friend and I contented ourselves with trying to identify the songs the pianist was playing (Seriously - "Strangers in the Night" and "Unforgettable" ???) and critiquing the only identifying fashion feature of the grads - their shoes.
We watched them proceed away from the stage and met outside to fiesta some more. By the time we got outside, the sun had come out and the warm summer day had re-appeared. Relieved graduates (the ones who had not tripped across the stage), proud parents, spouses, children, and friends all milled around, while enjoying taking pictures, noshing on refreshments, listening to live jazz music, and soaking in the accomplishments and a wide-open future for each person they had come to support.
Eventually, we returned to the vehicles (no parking tickets) and came home, savouring the memories of watching her cross the stage to begin the next chapter of her life.
Later, in the day, we met as a family and had a dinner to top off the two-week celebrations - complete with ice cream cake and cards of congratulations. It was quite the party!
I am so proud of the work my daughter put in to this educational path. She has accomplished so much over the last several years - launching out on her own, managing her own finances, forging friendships, and learning all that it means to become a professional in her field. I have every confidence that she will "Find her path; blaze the trails; remember her roots here at this fine establishment; and create community. " She will shine brightly in her profession. They[and we] are lucky to have her.
We had to be on the road very early - we went in a convoy. She was allowed three guests, because the auditorium only seated 300, but she was quite sure she could fit her whole entourage in the seats - she has very long eyelashes.
It was raining like November all the way in. I was worried because I had dressed for summer and didn't relish the thought of sitting all that time in wet clothes and damp feet. But she found us a parking spot right across the street - with one hour parking. We questioned the wisdom of parking there for four hours, but she was quite sure that we wouldn't get a ticket, because "they NEVER check", and trusting her long eyelashes again, we parked and ran across the street, clutching umbrellas to shield us from the rain. We made it inside with the minimum of water damage.
Once inside, the line up was already forming to enter the auditorium. We were happy that we had made it in such good time, because it looked like we would be in the running for seats. The graduate signed off for three seats. Meantime, some of the party went off to find Timmies. They needed to top up their caffeine levels, in case they had to put an ear to the door to listen to the proceedings. While there, we enjoyed the jazz trio that was playing live music in the foyer. A celebratory atmosphere was in the air.Eventually, the graduate came up, waving an extra three tickets. She let Grampa have one, so he didn't have to watch by close-circuit tv. Her two friends got the others and did a happy dance.
We all went into the auditorium and found our seats, saved by the only member of the party who didn't move for three hours - my husband. We enjoyed music by the pianist - who had the strangest posture I've ever seen.
I figured she worked hard enough for it, she should get some old-fashioned WAHOOING! My husband good-naturedly ignored that lady in the seat beside him.
My daughter's friend and I contented ourselves with trying to identify the songs the pianist was playing (Seriously - "Strangers in the Night" and "Unforgettable" ???) and critiquing the only identifying fashion feature of the grads - their shoes.
Then the ceremony came to a close. We got to applaud all the graduates, and the confetti was set off in a flurry of festivity.
We watched them proceed away from the stage and met outside to fiesta some more. By the time we got outside, the sun had come out and the warm summer day had re-appeared. Relieved graduates (the ones who had not tripped across the stage), proud parents, spouses, children, and friends all milled around, while enjoying taking pictures, noshing on refreshments, listening to live jazz music, and soaking in the accomplishments and a wide-open future for each person they had come to support.
Eventually, we returned to the vehicles (no parking tickets) and came home, savouring the memories of watching her cross the stage to begin the next chapter of her life.
Later, in the day, we met as a family and had a dinner to top off the two-week celebrations - complete with ice cream cake and cards of congratulations. It was quite the party!
I am so proud of the work my daughter put in to this educational path. She has accomplished so much over the last several years - launching out on her own, managing her own finances, forging friendships, and learning all that it means to become a professional in her field. I have every confidence that she will "Find her path; blaze the trails; remember her roots here at this fine establishment; and create community. " She will shine brightly in her profession. They[and we] are lucky to have her.
Comments
JC
'way to go!!!
Wowsers. Good for you!!!!
xoxo
AC