2020 is the year of resilience, flexibility, and creative solutions. It also happens to be the year that two of my three children celebrate major milestones. My youngest, Peter, graduated from high school, and my oldest, Bethany, graduated from college. However, they both almost lost their ceremonies.
Peter’s ceremony was delayed about three weeks. The venue was moved outdoors to the football stadium and Covid precautions with socially distant seating and temperatures taken at the front gate were put in place. Since it’s Texas, the ceremony was planned at 9:00 pm to escape the heat of the day. What we couldn’t escape was a thunderstorm.We managed to get everyone in the stadium, watched our students march in with all the appropriate pomp and circumstance. We even made it through the first of 4 prerecorded student speeches. Then the lightning hit, followed by torrential rain. Everyone hustled off the field and out of the stadium. After a 30 minute delay they announced that we would try again at 8:00 am in the morning.
We came back the following morning, the kids took their places on the field and we picked up where we left off. Lightning flashed in the distance, but we all ignored it. A light rain shower hit about midway through the C names. We all prayed to get through the alphabet – especially us, since W is at the end. The rain stopped and we made it through! Hooray. He’s officially graduated with diploma in hand.
But there is a bright side to all the drama. Later in life when his kids complain about how long their graduation ceremonies are, he can say, “Ha! You think this ceremony is long? Back in my day, my high school graduation ceremony lasted two whole days!” It’s almost as good as walking to school in the snow, uphill both ways.
This Saturday, we will attempt to watch our daughter walk across the stage. We will be outdoors again in the ACU football stadium. Her group gets the early 9:00 am start, with a 7:30 call time. There will be another ceremony in the evening. Texas heat is a killer, folks!
There was much talk about this ceremony not even happening, so I am super thankful that our university president made it a priority. Bethany is graduating with a 4.0 and a double major in math and computer science. Yep, the girl’s a smarty pants. She is headed to Texas A&M later this month to start work on a PhD in computer graphics. Thanks to one of my reader friends, she’s even got a new set of masks to wear when she gets there.
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Have you had to miss or reschedule any major events this spring/summer due to the pandemic?
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I have missed a lot of things I was looking forward to, including a debate and a chemistry competition. But for most of them I found that I didn’t really mind the loss – except for the journey to Australia – that is.
I have also missed, and will miss a lot of things I had never wanted to attend. And I am glad to be spared from many boring events I would be forced to attend otherwise.
Ha! Way to see the bright side, Anna. We can thank the pandemic for letting us skip all the boring events we didn’t want to go to in the first place. 🙂 It is a shame about your trip to Australia, though. I hope you are able to visit at a future date. The tourism industry has to be really hurting these days.
Congratulations on your two graduates! My husband and I had to cancel a trip to Canada this summer with my sister and her husband, who both live states away from us. So, that was disappointing, but we have rescheduled the trip for next summer. Many of our activities have been canceled, but fortunately we can continue many contacts through Zoom.
Thanks, Suzanne! I’m a proud mama. for sure. 🙂 I’m glad you were able to reschedule your family trip. That sounds like a great get-together. I had to cancel several trips as well, but none were so big as to be very disappointing.
In February our church was doing a play and I was going to be the lead and we worked very hard for this performance. Sadly when COVID broke out we had to postpone it. It was supposed to be April 9th and 10th we thought all that hard was all a waste but the Lord has other plans tomorrow is opening night for our play! I guess all that hard work is about to pay off! 😁
Wonderful, Anna! I pray everything goes well, and that you bless a lot of people. You’re going to rock that leading role!
Congratulations to both of your graduates and to your whole family. It takes family support to achieve and be happy, especially in these times.
We had to cancel our annual trip to California this summer to see our daughter, grandson, and son-in-law. Our doctor said an emphatic “No!” when we asked. However, they came here to Virginia in January since our grandson had a three week winter break – first time they’ve been in 6 years. God must have known our plans would change, so we were able to be blessed with seeing them then.
Don’t you love how God works things out, Betty? I hope you get to go see them soon. 🙂
Thank you Karen! I hope I rock the leading role as well all I have to think about is that I’m doing it for God and not for the glory!
Oh my goodness, Karen! What an adventure you all have had, but a big CONGRATS to your graduates – – and I’m sure you’re super proud. 🙂
I loved reading that your daughter is in the Computer Science field – – my son (who is much smarter than his mom, LOL) is working on his PhD at Carnegie Mellon right now – – this former kindergarten teacher can’t even imagine! 😉 Again, CONGRATULATIONS to both your kiddos who graduated! And thanks for sharing those photos—they are precious.
Hugs from Georgia (where we run a close second with the Texas heat!). 😉
So great to hear from you Patti Jo! Carnegie Mellon is an OUTSTANDING school. Congrats to your son. I’ve learned to just smile and nod when she starts talking about her projects. Ha!
Congratulations to both of your graduates! It’s wonderful that their schools forged ahead despite ALLLLLLL the challenges and found a way to honor their achievements with a ceremony.
I couldn’t agree more, Becky. 🙂 So thankful!
Had to reschedule and then cancel all together our wedding reception. Our honeymoon to Hawaii is canceled indefinitely 😥 it’s been a bummer of a year. But at least we still got married, just with a much smaller guest list.
Oh, no, Amanda! That’s much worse. What a bummer. Maybe you can have a giant party/reception or fabulous trip for your first anniversary. At least you have what matters most – your new hubby!
I have a high school graduate this year too. We were able to have his ceremony in the football field exactly a month later than when it was scheduled. I’m so glad the boys (he goes to an all boys school) were able to celebrate together. This weekend we take him to college! Luckily he is going to a smaller school and they have not gone the way of many of being completely virtual. 2020 is a year we will never forget!
This is a year for the history books, for sure, Jennifer. Peter is heading to Abilene Christian University (like his siblings before him) and they are moving forward with face-to-face instruction with masks and social distancing. I’m glad. Especially for freshmen who haven’t established relationships yet, it’s just hard to feel connected if you are learning at home. Best wishes for your son!
First, congrats to both your grads, and good for you for keeping a positive spin amid the drama and Texas heat! What have we missed? No grads or weddings, but our first trip ever to Europe to visit our son in Spain in April (with a side trip to Normandy) turned into a no-go. He has come to love Madrid and still hopes to introduce us to his adopted city. No telling when we will see him next, but he’s safe. On a smaller scale, our local symphony date nights and WW2 Days (typically a thousand re-enactors) at a museum nearby. At the very least, we hope to make a short visit away to help my parents celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary. Stay safe, Karen!
How sad to miss a trip to Spain, Janice. I hope you are able to find a new time to go. Thankful that your son is safe. I hope you do get to join your parents for their anniversary celebration. 60 years is a marvelous milestone that needs to be celebrated! 🙂
Congratulations on your two Graduates! That is so amazing I had one of my Grandsons to Graduate this year but they how they done his their was no one other then students and a few staff there! we watched from a video! Life has been a change this year for sure! Blessing’s To You and Your Family!
Congrats! Glad you got to celebrate your graduates! And glad your daughter found her place in a PhD program! Way to go!