Grand, Absolutely Grand

Oh to be graduated is a grand feeling. Just grand I tell you.

I walked in the College of Charleston May 2006 graduation ceremony. Well I didn't really walk because we only stood by schools and were pronounced graduates ... they didn't actually call our names and let us walk across. It was a perfect compromise. It was overcast and the clouds rumbled menacingly, cutting the speaker's little motivational speech from 10 points to 5. I sat in my seat at 2:22 p.m. exactly (which I considered fate becuase 2 has always been my favorite number) and then immediately stood on my chair, giving phone directions to my parents on where to look for me. I was on the left side if you were facing the stage about three-fourths of the way back in the first row of the row and a half of graduates of the newly-formed School of Languages, Cultures and World Affairs. I think the oncoming rain intoxicated us all, except for Greg who was actually intoxicated by the liquid in the two flasks he carried in his tux pocket. One was silver and engraved with El Borracho. How appropriate for a spanish major to be self-proclaimed as "the drunk" in Spanish. The class of 2006 was high energy. Multiple beachballs, which had been forbidden at graduation practice, were produced and then popped around until public safety sauntered on stage as intimidation factor. Whew! Good thing we had protection against those beach balls! At the end of the uncharacteristically short ceremony (I think I was off the stage by 3:47) the graduates rushed Porter's Lodge, the tradition arched exit of CofC's graduation ceremony, chanting "Go through the front" after being told to exit out Randolph Hall instead. Man, I love a good rebellion. Honestly a perfect way to end my college career, caught up in the adrenaline of overthrowing the authority of the institution that just endowed me with the degree I need to succeed. The rain starting pelting me halfway to the Education Center. Perfect timing.

Later all seven of my family members, Nick jenkins and I met back at Ellen's one bedroom apartment and attempted not to freak out on each other while we all tried to talk and decide on a place to eat in such close quarters. I ended up eating lunch/dinner (dunch?? linner??) with Mom, Dad, Ellen, Hammond, Dylan, Grandmother, Grandaddy and Nick at Locklear's, which was satisfactorily deserted except for one old couple to our right.We cracked distastefully excellent jokes about our elbow skin which is called a wenis and yes it does rhyme with what you might suspect, and took lots of smiling pictures. I'll post them if I can but they're film pictures .. my digital broke ... again.

I'll be sticking around Charleston till Wednesday ... I had planned for beach days but it's raining so I'm stuck inside on the computer. But that's ok because Laziness in key in these next few days. Then I guess I'll head to LA for a few before packing up and settling in Columbia at my new little apartment. Maybe I'll catch you in the mix.

It's a grand feeling being graduated. Absolutely Grand.