Slice of Life: A Picture Perfect Day for a Graduation

On Tuesdays, Two Writing Teachers hosts the Slice of Life. Everyone is welcome to share writing and comment on others in this special community. 

  

In 2018, I sponsored my entire family's trip to Michigan, including my mother, to attend our oldest daughter's college graduation. It seemed like the right thing to do, even though it was the end of April, and all three of her sisters had a lot going on in their own college and high school lives. We all sat in the UM Big House huddling in blankets as it snowed and the temperature hovered at about 32 degrees. This slice isn't about that weekend, but trust me. It was memorable for all the stories, and many of them involved being cold. 

I didn't fly sisters around for Daughter #2's graduation. Good thing. It was mid-May in Connecticut, and 102 degrees. We sat in the shadeless quad with hats and DIY fans. Daughter #3's college graduation featured sideways rain. The wind broke most of the umbrellas. Oh, and it was 2021, so there was an expectation to keep a distance from people. Our well-planned outside party was inside with lots of people in close quarters. Yep, another graduation full of memories, and many of them involved being wet. 

Cecily is our fourth daughter, and she graduated on Sunday. 

All week, the forecast was sketchy, except for Sunday. All week, the forecast was pretty perfect for Sunday. And it was. It was sunny and 70, maybe even 75 in the sun. We walked around campus, and we took pictures on the UConn letters. 

Then the crew hiked to the top of Horse Barn Hill overlooking the campus, and I happily took pictures of them along the way as I enjoyed the sun. 

I got a cute selfie with Cecily when they came back down. 

It was Mother's Day, and a picture perfect day for a graduation. And maybe the cold, heat, and rain made it even better! A great finale to our undergraduate graduations!