It was an auspicious ending to four years of dedicated study/parties/friendships/and fun. Bill and I, our son, and our three grandgirls celebrated the night before with dinner at the Sheridan Livery Inn in downtown Lexington, Virginia.
Then yesterday Jess graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VA Tech)!
We all staggered awake at 6:00AM to get Jess to the stadium field on time (by 9:00 AM). As it turned out, 6:00 wasn’t early enough. It was stop and go traffic backed up for miles, all inching toward the same parking lot. At 9:05 Jess jumped ship and walked ran the rest of the way.
Would we miss the ceremony? Talk about stress!
Safely parked, we then attacked the bleachers of Mt. Everest (I mean Lane Stadium). In a high altitude breathing vacuum, we managed to find seats high above “the madding crowd” where, surprisingly, natural breathing eventually returned.
We actually spotted Jess and her cap in the thousands of graduates below.
Can you see her in this crowd too? She’s the one in the white cap – front row right across from the boy/or maybe a girl in jeans.
Anyway – Eric Schmidt, Executive Chairman of Google, gave the commencement address. I thought he was truly inspiring as he urged graduates to positively change the world with open minded interpretation of technology and innovative thinking.
Miraculously, after all was said and done, we were able to find each other again in an atmosphere of general chaos.
It was then I knew what Mr. Schmidt meant about changing the world. Our family would never have connected without cell phone communication. And Bill and I would never have found our way out of the parking lot without a GPS system in the car.
But Congratulations again Jess on all your accomplishments. We wish you well as you head for the graduate school program in Human Resource Management at Michigan State University! I have a feeling you will change the world.
We were a tired crew arriving back in Lexington yesterday afternoon. Hungry too. But it was a beautiful day filled with beautiful smiles and a whole lot of pride.
What a special time for your family! Love all the pics! Did anyone get chicken salad at the “Livery”??!
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Congratulations to Jess on her graduation! The pictures were great, especially the afterward when everyone crashed 🙂
We had a similar thing with the crowds and parking when we went to see our daughter graduate from Georgia Tech (12 years ago now). What a mess! We were close enough to see her when she walked in, but her hat was not different and we had to really track her to see where she was sitting during the ceremony.
Have a good weekend!
Nancy
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Congratulations to Jess! Best of luck to her in graduate school. Thanks for sharing this special day with us, Dor.
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A wonderful day!
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Congrats to Jess!! What a wonderful accomplishment. I can just imagine the ear to ear smile of pride on your face :).
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Beautiful, beautiful granddaughters! You and Bill must be so proud!
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Oh, I bet that commencement address was an interesting one. Our world surely has changed in so many ways and yet the ordeal of getting to one’s seat in a commencement ceremony remains the one big unchangeable fact. It will probably be that a hundred years from now too. Lovely photos. Jess is darling and I send warm congratulations.
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Congrats to beautiful Jess – a huge accomplishment and she is going for more! Best wishes!
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No chicken salad Dianna – but Chicken Marsala I think. It’s a good place for dinner. 🙂
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It was a busy busy day for sure and the excitement eventually wore us all out. 🙂
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Thanks Jill! 🙂 We are so proud of Jess – and all the girls. Another one graduating from high school next month!
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Yep… seems like yesterday I was baby sitting for her, and just look at her now. 🙂
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Hey Dymph! You are so sweet to visit my blog, and I’m delighted you think my grandgirls are beautiful. I do too. Hope to see you soon so I can show you the shawl!!! 🙂
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That’s what the speaker was saying – that our world has changed so significantly in the last 40 years and what will it be like in the next 40? Everything is in the hands and minds of the young people coming up now. Thanks for your lovely comment my friend and for reminding me there will be more bleacher seating next month when our youngest grandgirl graduates from high school! 🙂
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Thank you Eliza! We are so proud of Jess in so many ways. 🙂
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Congratulations to Jess and the rest of the family, it is indeed something to celebrate! The pictures are beautiful, although I would have enjoyed one of Jess dashing to the ceremony…haha
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🙂 Now why didn’t I think of that – a pic of Jess running to her graduation! 🙂
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Congratulations to Jess and to all of you – what an exciting day – but oh so stressful in those last moments wondering if you’ll make it on time – yikes!
Enjoy the aftermath .. MJ
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Stress makes me very sleepy after it’s all over. I’m still napping in the aftermath! Thanks MJ. 🙂
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I love seeing this Dorann – congratulations to Jess on her graduation and the next exciting chapter in her life is about to begin. Amazing the crowds, my neighbors went through it yesterday and were as exhausted as your family. Have a great week ahead ~
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Yeah, we’re just as young as we used to be!
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Well done. I hate crowds. I would go fro the televised version.
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I’m glad you enjoyed the graduation story Mary. It was emotional and exciting for our family… an overwhelming experience. Another world really. 🙂
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You have that right! 🙂
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I hate crowds too and would join you for a televised version.
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Oh I DEFINITELY know that feeling of anxiety as you’re about to miss or just make an important event! Glad you made it and congrats to all.
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🙂 Peace and quiet return! 🙂
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What a pretty girl! Congratulations to Jess and good luck to her in graduate school!! 🙂
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At my eldest’s graduation, it was crazy crowded and people were throwing tortillas like frizbees. TV yes.
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Many thanks Debbie! We are certainly proud of her. 🙂
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Where do they come up with these ideas? 🙂
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I don’t know. At one point, the formal choir was singing a high brow piece with incoming tortillas. Kind of ridiculous really. At my #2 son’s graduation, they had campus police nabbing folks’ contraband. 🙂
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Strange and wonderful things, graduations! 🙂
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