My College Graduation

When I graduated from college, I was surrounded by my favorite people in the whole world.

My Mom

Mom raised my sisters and me as a single parent. She balanced teaching school and taking care of us. It was a lot to manage. I know some days it was a struggle to keep all the balls in the air. Some days she could have used four or five extra hands to get all the balls from falling.

My Dad

Dad came on Sundays to take us to museums or to visit his mom (my Gigi) or to go on hikes. He loved books, art, the theater and exploring the great outdoors. He shared his joy of them with us and much of it rubbed off. A passion for modern art only rubbed off on my youngest sister.

My Sisters

Kate and Michelle have always been my closest friends and encouragers. We shared a room for many years when we lived in an apartment following my parent’s divorce. By the time we were in high school and we knew just want to do to get the others attention and on each other’s nerves. Going off to college had been a good time for us to grow up and grow back to each other.

My Maternal Grandmother

Gigi generously paid for two years of my college education. I probably would have had to get loans if she hadn’t provided the much need funds.

She was a serious and proper lady. When I visited her, she expected me to act like a proper lady. She never understood why my mom let me wear sneakers and play in the mud. In her world girls sat on couches and read books wearing dresses.

My Adopted Grandparents

The church I attended in college has a program called Adopt-A –Student that assigned students to older members of the church. I was blessed to be matched up with the Greene’s.

Mr. Greene had to watch his sugar levels but, Mrs. Greene would always make dessert if I was going over for Sunday dinner. I went to their house often for dinner.

They had dated as young adults, but didn’t end up getting married until much later. They taught me so much about what a joyful marriage should be. Mrs. Greene advised me to wait until I was ready to get married. I bet she would have never guessed it would take me so long to be read.

Under the hot sun of Virginia in May I crossed in front of them on a raised stage set up in front of one of the dorms.

I was so happy to have them all there to witness this wonderful event. I was so blessed to have each of them in my life.