So even though most anyone who will read this already knows,
I still want to document this important event. I graduated!!! Whoa!! What?!
Yeah, I know. I’m still talking to myself about it. Oh, and to Miley. Sometimes
late at night when I’m staring into the dark of night wishing I was asleep,
I’ll start talking to Miley. One recent conversation went like this: “Miley.
Hey, Miley! Are you asleep? I’m not
asleep. Do you wish I was asleep? Do you wish I’d quit talking to you in the
middle of the night. Hey! Guess what?! I graduated! Yeah. Me. I have a degree.
A-for-real bachelor’s degree. Are you listening to me? Miley!!” She didn’t even
raise a paw. I guess she’s getting used to me babbling during the night. Not
only do I talk about it in the middle of the night, I also have some real panic
moments still. It just doesn’t feel right to be hanging out with nothing
pressing waiting for my immediate attention. It also doesn’t feel right to
lounge around. I wonder if I’ll get beyond that.
Speaking of babbling, how about getting back on track here.
Graduation. The day before graduation I took my last final and came home. Rissa
was here. I started making a grocery list with the intention of going to the
store before Shauntel and the grandbabies arrived. I didn’t want to miss their
arrival, so I was hustling to try to get out of the house right away. Rissa
started questioning everything I was doing. “Why are you making that meal? I
don’t think Shauntel would like that. I don’t think Belle would eat that. How
about we rethink this grocery run. Maybe you should wait until she gets here.”
I argued with her, telling her I had nothing in the house for them, so I should
at least go buy milk and some snacks for the babies. And that became my plan,
but then I remembered that Shauntel likes to have some homemade wheat bread to
eat, so I said maybe I should just make that right now. Rissa wholeheartedly
agreed. Too wholeheartedly. There even seemed to be relief in that
wholeheartedness, but right at that moment, I realized that I hadn’t really
eaten that day because of my final, etc., so I picked up something and started
eating. Danielle came in the room and said someone was at the door.
Me: “That’s nice. Go get it.”
Danielle: “I think it’s for you.
You should get it.”
Me: “I have a full mouth. You get
it. I’ll be there in a minute.”
Danielle: “No. Mom! You need to get
it. It’s for you. I see flowers.”
Good grief! These girls were being difficult to me. So I
gulped and went to the door. And there standing in front of me was Kristen’s
boyfriend, Bruce, with flowers. Not that I wasn’t happy to see him (I really
was, and it was the first time he had ever come for a visit!), but I knew if
Bruce was standing before my eyes, Kristen was somewhere near at hand. Oh my
goodness! What a wonderful, fun moment. I started screaming and hugging and
dancing all at once. Kristen appeared from the bushes, and the screaming and
hugging and dancing went on. They had all been planning this moment for two
months. All of them had been keeping it a secret from me that they were coming.
Well, they sort of kept it a secret. All of them slipped up at one time or
another, but I only managed to catch one of the slip-ups.
About a month before graduation I got a phone call from the
Dean of the School of Arts and Letters. The nice woman on the other end called
to tell me that I was the valedictorian of the English department and that I
would be speaking in convocation. I have to admit that I was a little
surprised. I have one A-, and I was certain that A- was going to protect me
from this honor. I was crazy ticked off when I got that A- in Advanced Oil
Painting years ago, but then I came to adore that A- because I was sure it
would be the thing that would save me from a speech. Where are all the 4.0s
when you need them? About a week before graduation, I was called in for an
interview to be the speaker at commencement. Right about now, can I say,
“Whoa!! Stop it!!” See here’s how I look at it. I worked really hard my whole
educational career, and then they decided to punish me by making me speak in
public. And so I went to that interview. And, what can I say? I flubbed it.
Okay, maybe not flubbed it, but I was outright honest and told them I’d rather
speak in convocation. The valedictorian speaker in commencement was awesome.
They definitely made the right choice with him. He was so awesome, I wish that
I had a transcript of his speech.
So graduation day finally came. I practiced that speech
every day for a week. Did I hear you say nervous wreck? Who? Me? I was calm as
a clam. No!! Not true! I’m an English major, not a communications major. We
English majors like to play with words on paper, not in the air in public. So I
arrived with my little cue cards, and I sat down by my friend, Jessica. She
told me I needed to be on the stand. She pointed out where I should be. I left
and sat on the stand, and a couple minutes later, Jessica showed up with my cue
cards. I would have left my brain behind if it was possible. Thanks, Jessica!
As I started my speech, I looked over to the second row
where four beautiful young women and three beautiful little girls sat watching
me. And I felt so blessed. How grateful I am for my four daughters who have
become my four mothers. They have protected me, advised me, and loved me all
along the way.
I got through the speech fine, and the day was finally over.
I graduated! It took 34 years from start to finish, but I finally finished. I
have a bachelor’s degree in English: Professional and Technical Writing. I keep
saying it like I’ve never heard it before, like it’s some kind of surprise or
something. I keep telling Danielle: “Did you know I have a bachelor’s degree?”
She rolls her eyes. “Yes, Mom. I know.”
Me with all my girls.
Me with Jessica.
So I had all of my girls together for a few days, and we did
some fun things together, but mostly we just did what we do best. We hung out
and lounged around and laughed a lot. It was a wonderful time. I am my happiest
when I’m surrounded by these lovely people. I guess I should graduate more
often. What degree should I go for next?
