The seasons change. The clock ticks. Time marches forward. Meanwhile, I cherish the past, embrace the now, and anticipate the future.
There are many ordinary days of starting the laundry, vacuuming hair of Lucy the Golden-Doodle-less (a story for another time), scurrying off to my part-time job as a 'fake patient' training med students,juggling different roles, squeezing in fitness time, and hoping for creative moments to renovate Hillcrest Cottage or create new art.
Next, there are the mountain- peak days. These are the once-in-a-lifetime days which celebrate the faithfulness to the ordinary and to completing what can only be done in each 24- hour period.
To be honest, I have no idea how this particular day came to be... this college graduation day. Why? Because this son was delivered to college a mere couple of months ago. I have barely cleaned the room he left behind in Hillcrest Cottage. I wonder how was he able to earn majors in English and history from the Honors College, present a 99- page thesis paper, and receive Cum Laude recognition in such a short time span.
But he did.
And his undergrad college days are completed.
I am amazed... at how quickly time passes... I am determined... to live with no regrets.
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| Brother- of- Graduate & Mom-of-Graduate Waiting for the Big Moment |
The University of Arkansas's Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences graduated their largest class ever. My son, however, aheem...was one of the 140 honor graduates. He wore a red stole to signify his achievement... very scholarly of him.
To hear his name was awesome. To see him on the big screen was thrilling.
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| The Big Moment |
Then, came the photo 'opps'. My sweet son endured it all for me. I love this photo taken in front of Old Main... my favorite building on campus. I love the tradition of my Alma Mater's "Senior Walk" and of the school's graduates having their names inscribed in concrete. On these sidewalks are relatives' names dating back to the 1880's (when the U of A was Arkansas Industrial College). My dad's name is on a sidewalk along with my brother's, my husband's, and my own. Pretty darn cool.
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| Well...Hello, Mr. Double-Major -Honors- College- Cum Laude Graduate |
In the following picture, father and son are literally walking in former students' shadows: Grandparents, uncles, cousins, and parents. Robin William in "Dead Poet's Society" admonished his students with these wise words:
They're not that different from you, are they? Same haircuts. Full of hormones, just like you. Invincible, just like you feel. The world is their oyster. They believe they're destined for great things, just like many of you, their eyes are full of hope, just like you. Did they wait until it was too late to make from their lives even one iota of what they were capable? Because, you see gentlemen, these boys are now fertilizing daffodils. But if you listen real close, you can hear them whisper their legacy to you. Go on, lean in. Listen, you hear it? - - Carpe - - hear it? - - Carpe, carpe diem, seize the day boys, make your lives extraordinary.
Carpe Diem, Stuart.
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| Walking in the Shadows of Three Previous Generations |
It is good to be the proud parent of a son who is everything any parent could ever hope to have. These are real words full of true meaning and not a frivolous toast filling the air with fluff.
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| Wow...What a Great Day |
Here's to the graduate! Here's to the celebration of many, many late nights and saying 'no' to other things and lonely times spent in the library and eating canned dollar store food to stretch the college loan budget. Here's to your future which is bright and shiny and yet- to- be revealed!
Exciting times ahead.
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| He was Extremely Diligent & Devoted to His Education |
