Graduation is always a bittersweet affair

Our school’s commencement exercises are Sunday evening and although I sometimes bemoan the fact that faculty attendance is mandatory, I always, ALWAYS end up being glad that I’m there.

Part of my reluctance to attend is probably because I’m always the photographer and I fret a little because I get anxious as to how the photos will turn out. But I’d much prefer being behind a lens than in front of one. And part of it is because it marks the end of another year that’s passed in my life, and students that I really enjoy will no longer be walking the halls laughing with their friends, or visiting me in the office.

I took this photo last year of my friend and co-worker Margie (she’s on the left) with two of her former students. Mary Ellen (center) and Kate (right) graduated in 2002 and are friends of my eldest son. They all took art classes with Margie. You may remember her and Mary Ellen from my NYC trip last December. Mellon’s aunt has a cool apartment in Greenwich Village and she let us have it for the weekend. I thought it had two bedrooms. But it had two rooms. And the bed was actually in the kitchen, which I thought could be convenient for midnight snacking purposes. Or to get a chilled glass of wine. You could sit at the edge of the bed and open the frig!! It was fun.

I always look forward to the alum who continue to attend graduations at our school. Sometimes it’s because they have a younger sibling who’s graduating, and sometimes it’s to see someone they know. But always, it’s good to see former students and to see that they are doing well.

These are alum from the year my youngest graduated (2005). The young men in this picture spent countless weekends at our home from the time they were in 6th grade and I loved seeing them again.

*** sigh ***

Hope you have a wonderful Saturday.