It's been a busy few days with celebrations and family and friends - aka Graduation Weekend.
Everything really kicked off Thursday evening, when my parents and grandpa arrived from the UP in the late evening. It continued Friday morning, when Mom and I did some shopping before everybody got gussied up in their Friday finery for the Dean's Reception. We sampled the spread and tried to find friends in the crowd, largely striking out but running into Abby and her parents as both headed for the Marketplace table to buy some Ross schwag. Then back to my place, where Bill & Sharon and Jenelle arrived in short order. Just as they did, though, it was time for me to 'gown up' and head down to Crisler Arena for Commencement. After seemingly endless pre-ceremony gathering and photo-taking, Section 3 filed down Section 28 and into floor seats for the final chapter in our MBA lives. Nate Johnson's speech really carried the day, I filed across the stage in due time, and shortly after that we sang a chorus of The Victors and were dismissed, graduates all. Outside, under the Ring of Knowledge, we took pictures before heading south for a laid back - but delicious - dinner.
Saturday morning (in the correct chronological sense) I was awoken to quite a surprise: Robin stumbling into 409B, fresh off a plane from MSP. She was quite noisy about it, making a HUUUUGE rucus while getting ready for bed.
Saturday morning (in the usual astrological sense) we all got up and had breakfast together before Robin and I hit the town to pick up some party necessities and lunch food. When we got back to the apartment, we packed the soft-sided cooler, a blanket and chairs, and had a great picnic on the Quad under the flagpole. With an enormous block-M flag flapping overhead we ate pulled pork and sliced mango, played frisbee, and watched people. We also hit Steve & Barry's for a hat, Stucchi's for a cone, and Shaman Drum for a book.
In the late afternoon, a grad party in my honor hosted by Jenelle at Huron Towers. Both of our parents had brought food, we contributed burritos and bevies, and about 20 family and friends came to celebrate along the river. As is so often the case, the whole thing happened much too quickly - before it was even possible, people were heading home. Closest family hung out in my apartment for a while afterwards, talking and re-visiting the memory board Jenelle made.
Sunday morning we had leftover margarita mousse for breakfast, played frisbee on Mitchell Field, and then said goodbyes in the parking lot. Robin and I headed toward the airport (with a stop at Jenelle's for a pre-flight snack and Ollie-tainment) and then it was, somehow rather suddenly, just Jenelle and I enjoying a sunny Sunday at home.
Monday, April 30, 2007