A Merry Graduation
Saturday, May 28, 2011
In which Izzy progresses from one realm of life to the next…
Collette woke from dreams of walking through a vineyard in the uncertain anticipation of stormlight in a late afternoon, skirted by gray mountains…
Under silver skies…
It was time for another graduation. It had been three years since Collette had attended, last when Rose was senior. And now it was Izzy’s turn.
10:00.
The traditional march, orderly rows of black robes and green stoles, past pots of red roses for the mothers, as usual, since the first ceremony eight years ago with the tawdry representation in numbers of Collette, OLeif, and the others.
Adam-Age was eloquent in the senior speech department.
Scott was sage and lightly humorous in the guest speech department.
And with Annamaria tickling the ivories, the biographies commenced with Curly’s prerecorded narration, generating dozens of potential scientists and engineers, a heavy emphasis in the field of soccer and ultimate frisbee, and there was even mention of someone owning ‘two red-bellied piranha’… Enough of the old faces from old days, younger siblings of former contemporaries, friends of siblings, etc., among whom were seven prominent faces. Izzy of course, Adam-Age, Charlie, German, Goofy Nickles, Crusher Rum, and Plato Buckle. And Kitts arrived from Ohio in time to see her little brother receive his diploma.
11:30; ceremony end.
Some unidentifiable smash of techno/dance music sent off the rowdy graduates, jigging, do-si-doing (that was Izzy and Charlie), etc., off to the reception hall.
The gymnasium was packed. There was no room for cake that year, with 61 tables highlighting the Brazilian-Jiu-Jitsu-Teaching-English-in-Poland-Third-Degree-Black-Belt-Aspiring-Filmographer-National-Merit-Scholar-Winning-Swing-Dancing collection of 2011 graduates.
There were a few captures of other faces from the old, old days… Lorenzo Gwanael and his little family, Columbia Hillsong, Peach Fuzz, and Stacy Sage, who was now married, people they still saw once a year at concerts or other such alumni places. Bing was there, of course, going into the second year of his Masters and writing an opera to be performed the following spring. And Mrs. English’s mom, whom they met in the parking lot just before leaving.
Back to the house where the coffee was going.
OLeif motored up the bike for Kitts and Curly. Kitty was in some minor raptures over the whole idea. She then joined Puck with marbles and trains on the floor, between conversation with her brothers.
There wasn’t time for the grass-fed beef steaks, stuffed peppers, shrimp, and soft Sister Schubert rolls, so it was an order of Papa Murphy’s pizza which was sent into the oven as Pastor and Mrs. Marshall arrived. And appetizers of cheese sticks. And to further the celebration of the day: chips and soda, and packs of Oreos. Followed by apple pie and vanilla ice cream that was never opened.
While Kitts discussed her graduate work in music cognition with the rest of the family…
After lunch, Puck sandwiched himself between his uncles, for a happy four year-old dream of double Minecraft.
Gloria laughed at them.
“What?” said Izzy. “We’re bonding in… brother… ship.”
Then Puck begged a blanket off his nana.
Soon, nearly everyone had fallen asleep with The Cosby Show. And Gloria and Izzy left for Adam-Age’s graduation party.