Along the Graybeard Trail

Congratulations to Eric who graduated from Bowling Green State University yesterday! He got to post pictures on Facebook. I figured I could post here. He chose this one for his profile picture so I chose it. I also took the pictures so I have some claim to them.

It was a very nice day – although a cold continued to plague me. Tricia and I got up early and she drove over while I slept. We arrived around eight-thirty. We got the tickets from Eric and went for a quick breakfast. We returned to Eric’s apartment and drove him to the Stroh Center. He entered with the other graduating students. Tricia parked the car. We found seats and saved some for Eric’s uncle and aunt – Paul (my brother but I am trying to give Eric the lead in this story) and Cindy. Eric’s cousins Billy, Greg, and Tom also attended.

A brass quintet played Christmas music before the graduation ceremony. The announcer said that commencement would commence and the quintet started into “Pomp and Circumstance.”

Those on the platform were introduced. A short speech was delivered. The names of the students were read. Eric walked across the stage, shook hands, received his diploma (well an attractive case to hold the diploma that they will mail to him), and returned to his seat. When all his fellow graduates had received their attractive cases sans diplomas, they moved their tassels. A couple more words followed and the commencement ended. And Tricia and I became parents of two college graduates.

When we got back outside the Stroh Center, snow had begun to fall.

From there we went to Hanna Hall for a very nice lunch provided by the Geography department. Eric graduated with a double major in Geography and Sociology. We enjoyed the opportunity to meet his professors. After enjoying conversation and lunch, we went back to his apartment.

We helped him gather up his things. I picked up one bag and winced at its weight.

Eric: That one is pretty heavy.
Me: You’re telling me.
Eric: There might be weights in there.
Me: There might be weights in here? Didn’t you pack it?
Eric: Yeah. There are weights in there. Two ten-pound weights.

He had packed a lot of other things in it as well, but I managed to carry it.

Tricia safely navigated us home through the snow. Upon returning to the Erie Shire, she had to go to UPS to ship back her router. Eric and I went out and shoveled the driveway and sidewalk. We then went next door to shovel for Al and Pam – he has shoveled for Tricia in the past and it seemed like a way to help them out.

After a brief rest, we ventured into the snow again (it had stopped by this point) and went to a restaurant of Eric’s choosing – Tommy’s in Coventry. Some things never change.

A good day!

See you along the Trail.