May 30, 2015

NOOOOOOO!!!!!  Damn alarm.  It shouldn’t be allowed to go off on a Saturday morning…but then I remembered why it was going off and all was forgiven.  In fact, I didn’t have much time.  It wasn’t long before I had to wake the kids.   Mags curled my hair – there hadn’t been time for her to paint my nails last night – partially because I was dead tired.  Talk about a hell of an emotional day..in soooo many ways.  Naturally, the last few minutes were a bit chaotic: I was mad because Dennis Cook’s Dirty Impound songs on 8 Track,  <the first was Blind Faith’s “Can’t Find My Way Home”, which is my theme song> wouldn't play, I didn’t want to be late, things were not working according to plan...last-minute stuff puts me on edge.

We were on the way – heading to Sacramento’s beautiful Memorial Auditorium.  I had 2 rabbits ahead of me…and watched one caught by CHP.  It reminded me of so many long road trips to Ft. Worth and the relationships I formed with so many drivers.  I initially found a parking spot right smack in front, but it was only for 2 hours and I knew we would be in a lot longer than that.  Ended up buying 8 hours’ worth (unintentionally) of parking space and we walked 2 blocks.  It was a crazy mess and I didn’t understand the organization at all…but it turned out I was in the undergrad section.  Sent the kids in to go find a seat and headed around to go find my cohorts.  We stood in the numbered line about 45 minutes…laughing, talking, remembering and planning.  I’m glad I’m not quite done yet with all of these people…because honestly, I’ll miss them.

We headed into the auditorium.  The music was so beautiful (“Pomp & Circumstance, No.1" by Sir Edward Elgar)and it was such a surreal moment.  My heart swelled; I was an academic bride, walking down my aisle. I looked everywhere for my kids amongst the family and friends of fellow graduates to no avail, yet I was so glad I had decided to participate in the commencement ceremony to show my children that hard work does pay off.  What was funny to me, and absolute proof that there is a Higher Power, was this:  Of all my cohorts, there were two who 11 times out of 10 got on my last nerve during classes and Guess Who was on either side of me?  Exactly.  And once again, I was shown the error of my ways for I was able to see them in a completely different light than usual, admitting to myself that I was wrong again (which is ok).  I love those little God shots.  The Masters of Cremonies, or whatever you call the fancy men and women all decked out in doctoral gear, stood on stage and as our favorite Dr. Weber was introduced, about 5 of us screamed loudly…as he smiled and shook his head slowly, so we shut up.  That man is going to miss the hell out of the life we bring to his classrooms.  I finally got a text from Ethan as to their location – just as my row was about to stand up to cross the stage.  It was so exciting…finally walking, shaking hands (holding my diploma the wrong way, of course), smiling for a picture with the Chancellor and then back to my seat.  The entire commencement was surprisingly short – just over an hour.  

 

As I walked out, a tall, young lady jumped at me.  “I love you, Mommy!”  A tall, young man smiled and shyly  walked up to me  and smiled at me.  I was thrilled and introduced them to a few classmates.  The blazing sun and the flowing black robe made it uncomfortable, so we started the 2 mile trek to locate our car, parked 2 blocks away.  After a half an hour (and lots of “Congratulations!” shouted from passing cars and even a homeless man), I took the robe off, sand seeing we had 6 more hours of time, we walked back to P.F. Changs for lunch.  A classmate was there with her family (her daughter attends TCU and makes a much better TCU/Texan than I ever did).  She approached our table later…”Isn’t it great to be sober?” she smiled.  You bet it is.  This couldn’t have happened any other way.  We headed home and each of us walked our separate ways for a 2 hour nap.

Once again, I awoke, but this time due to heat.  Soon, my little ones awoke, as well, and we prepared to head to Café Mahjaic for our graduation celebration.  Long ago, under different owners I called it Café Labia, because of the art, which was very Georgia O’Keefe/labia like.  Now it’s quite different…the art isn’t as fun <sad face>  and usually noisy…but that’s ok.  Didn’t get our favorite waitress, but she remembered us and stopped by to say hello and chat.  Dinner was delicious and I managed to eat enough for two weeks (though as I stared at the salad, visions of nachos went through my mind…really).  As our main entree arrived, my mind went back to my friend earlier at P.F. Chang’s who told me to say with my authentic self and not change “into a grown-up,” and, quite true to form, my small roasted corn cob flew off my plate and onto the floor at this fancy-dining-establishment-without-labia-paintings.  Of course.  Can’t get much more authentic than that.  As the kids I left (after having to dig for change in the car to cover a 20% tip as I forgot to deposit my check), we sang to JC Mellencamp’s “Jack and Diane” and Mags thanked me for having introduced her to “old people’s music.”  We cruised Main Street in Placerville singing to Queen’s “We are the Champions” as I sat at the stop-sign, air guitar-ing the solo and waited for the light to change (there was no damn light).  I have such fun with my tribe.  These are the days.

Pictures:   Once the commencement had commenced; My hair-stylist at work; Awaiting the commencement; We have ceremonied!; My sweet text from my anti-school boy. <3