Commencement Phase One: The Graduate Version Was Successfully Hosted at Fairfield, Before Giving My a Day for Summer Home Prep

For a guy who didn't attend a single of of his Master Degree Graduations (and I have 2.8 degrees - kicked away the last two classes at Bread Loaf for the Doctorate). Both times I was like "too much time, too many hassles, I want to move on, etc." I just didn't go. I find the same is true for Graduate students at Fairfield University. Only about 1/3 attend, and those individuals are usually doing it for their families.

I was ready to go, on campus, and dressed by 8 a.m. - it was wonderful to see the students I did see, including Eva and Shane, pictured here, who spent the last year taking my classes. They even worked for me and did the teacher institute. No pictured is Emmi, who is in the same boat (who also attended yesterday - I love our connections to Denmark). there were three English Education grads this year and all three are thrilled to become English teacher.

Of special surprise was the Commencement Speaker, Maggie Doyne, CEO of BlinkNow Foundation and a global humanitarian. She told a story of not getting into the colleges she wanted, taking a gap year, and ending up in India meeting orphaned children of India living in poverty. Young, herself, she began to question her privilege as a U.S. citizen with so much she was able to take advantage of with parentless children cracking rocks open on a riverbanks of India. There was a calling, and although she doesn't/didn't claim a religion, she does think about doing good for the world, and has chosen to pay her privilege forward. Next to Jason Reynolds at Lesley University, this may be the best speech I've ever heard at one of these ceremonies...so effective, I'll likely reach out.

I snuck out, came home to walk Karal, and then tackled the back patio and power washing. I am amazed at how clean things become after doing a power walk...scruffy appears new again. 

I wanted to grill, though. So I did a ribeye, mushrooms (they are always the best), potatoes, tips, and vegetables. Sadly, Bev is too sick right now, so Pam, Leo, and I got together. I know I'm not suppose to eat too much red meat, but phew those ribeyes tasted good. 

Today it is undergraduate commencement, a much larger and much longer ceremony. I am no obligated to go so I am playing the morning by ear. I do hate to miss the students walking in...some I had their freshman and senior years....especially the athletes. 

Temperatures are on the up and up. Patio is getting there. And the weekend belongs to University rituals .