Yesterday was the graduation ceremony for my Daughter. The gold medallion on the white ribbon is her honors medal. She had not bothered to tell us she was graduating with honors… being a fairly reserved person and a bit modest. The colored strand is Golden Key? or some such honors society thing.
Miss Smith Graduates with Honors
Here she is approaching the microphone to give her comments to the audience. The ‘scroll’ in her hands was various described as a “Guilt List” and as a “Gilt List”. Spelled out so we could not mistake one for the other… The tradition began as a Guilt List of all the fine works the students OUGHT to have read… and was just a year or two back rechristened as a Gilt List of all the golden works one would now benefit from / enjoy and treasure. I’ve only glanced at it, as the type was small and the list is long ;-)
She is now “working on that great novel”… or some such. (It seems to be what Fine Arts and English majors are expected to do…)
Like her brother, she is thinking of getting an advanced degree, but only after spending some time away from school. For both of them, graduation was the first time since “preschool” at about 4? years old that they were not in school. (Other than summer vacations…)
We are doing a lot of “family things” right now (as the son is visiting for this event too) so I’m being a bit “driven” and unable to participate with the blog as much as usual. Simply put: My daughter and her day take priority.
We are all beaming and happy. Another day “on the cusp of the future”, full of potential and a positive beginning, along with an end to a long work.
With that, get out there and enjoy your day and this life. As I’ve said to my kids, many times: “This life is not a dress rehearsal! Take big bites!” That’s what we’re doing ;-)
Musings from the Chiefio 
Congratulations! May your daughter follow in your footsteps and use her talents to make this world a better place for us all. – Oliver http://omanuel.wordpress.com/
It proves the old saying; ‘It’s all in the genes’.
Congratulations to your daughter.
I’m sure your very proud as you should be!
Congratulations. Grand kids yet, to spoil?
I hope your daughter makes beetroot chocolate cakes like my daughter of similar age does….:)
@Corey:
We’re a “slow to mature” lot. I didn’t get married until my early 30s… so my two kids are basically being “20 something teenagers” at the moment… (rather like I was…) and enjoying themselves. Neither married and no kids.
I think the ‘slow to mature’ is also why I was still learning foreign languages in my 40s (and maybe 50s… I’ve lost track of when which was last…) and generally remain very ‘flexible’ of thinking. At least it’s as good an excuse as any for being “Puckish” and playful even as the gray hair sets in ;-)
I’m basically still just a ‘big kid’ even now…
E.M., I well understand the late blooming syndrome. I was 64 when we had our first and maybe only grand child, a blessing. Marriage, children, and grand children are all generally positive life changing events.
Anyway, I enjoy the blog, and visit daily. Enjoy what you have and take it in big bites.
A proud day! And yes – life needs to be lived to the full. I’m sure that time since she was in kindergarten seems to have gone so quickly. Most parents (self included) seem to find their children grow up too fast. But then I’m still a ‘big kid’ too…
@E.M. This is one of the purposes of our lives and we feel retributed by our daughters/sons. Hope good times ahead for all of you. Cheers!
Congratulations!
I’ll have a drink for this, Cheers!
Wonderful!
Every parent deserves a proud moment to make up for all those “Not so proud moments”.
Congratulations to you and your daughter.
My youngest graduated from college 2 weeks ago and it is the first time in 33 years that I have not had a child in school. Whew! The best thing of all is that she already has a job. I love it when they turn into responsible adults. :)
Enjoy your time with your family and cherish the memories.
“My daughter and her day take priority.”
Of course, and congratulations to her and you.
Congratulations to your daughter and your family. A proud moment for all of you.
Now here’s hoping she leaves a positive mark on the world as her old man is doing.
Wonderful! Congrats! Sounds like your daughter has done very well! I am guessing that at least part of the reason for her success is that her father is not just another pretty face, but rather is a great Dad as well. :)
Congratulations Chiefio, it’s always nice to see your fledglings clear another of life’s hurdles. I hope your daughter has inherited your eclectic and inquiring mind. I identify with your late maturing gene in that I kicked around in my twenties, did not marry until I was 30 and didn’t get my P.Eng. until I was 39 years old. As for my daughter, we have attended five convocations for her: public school, high school, bachelors degree, masters degree and pHd. Somewhere in there was a B.Ed. also. Highly educated but no job yet at 32 years of age. No grandchildren yet either! Oh well. they tell us that 30 years old is the new 20 years.
Seeing your daughter with the mortar board hat reminds me of my daughter’s sense of humour at her convocation last October 31. After the ceremony she pulled a witch’s hat of a bag and switched it for the issued head wear. Henceforth she informed people that she was graduating from Hogwarts. This charade fit in well with the old architecture of McGill U. The Chinese and Japanese students and parents seemed particularly taken by the act and she posed for many Potter enthusiasts.
Congratulations!
Very good looking, obviously takes after her mother…
This is my daughter a week short of her 15th Birthday, on the right.
She is going to have one of he English Essays published.
Congratulations and a great future.
Blessings to you and yours- enjoy the day!
Congratulations to your daughter, lovely smile, and looks wiser than her years. And congratulations to you and spouse on another milestone achieved.
CONGRATULATIONS
To your daughter and the parents.
I know how proud you are, I am lucky to experience the great emotion twice in the recent years.
Congratulations to your daughter as she goes “off into the world to seek her fortune”. And high honors to her parents. Nothing more satisfying than the success of our offspring, and nothing that can offer their gratitude and love to parents than their good success with integrity. Carry on. Next, the joy of “success” of our offspring’s offspring.
I can’t remember my own graduations but I can certainly remember my daughter’s. Marvellous feeling, ain’t it?
@All:
Thanks for all your kind words and encouragement.
Yes, we had a very special time of it. I ought to mention that her birthday was worked into the schedule as well… And this morning the son was put back on the plane for Chicago.
It’s been a Very Hectic Weekend!
We’ve now got fully 3 cakes to deal with (including the spousal ‘retirement cake’…) and few people to do it! “Let me eat cake”!
So a few parties out of the way. Some life events done. Some family get togethers wrapped up. And I’ve been doing “preparations” for some other potentials. (News when / if I get notice early next week).
So I’m spending part of today “recovering” and will hopefully get back on track “soon”.
As for the Daughter: Yes, she’s a smart cookie with a wry wit and enjoying every minute of it…
Takes after her mother, though. THEY both got honors and I didn’t… so I’m reminded ;-)
(At this point, between the spouse, her twin, my two kids, the twin’s kid: ALL of them have various “honors”, and that makes me “the slow one” of the group… or maybe just the lazy one… I’m sure I could have gotten honors if I’d tried… yeah, that’s it, it was a motivation thing ;-) In reality, I think it was the “working to put myself through school”. After a 30 to 40 hour work week, you just feel like doing a B worth, not the extra double the time for the A+… Or so I tell the kids ;-)
Sounds like there are plenty of wonderful “smarts” to go around in your family. I’m well satisfied with your “lazy” version. Thanks for sharing so much of it. (I kind of thought what seems like your 80-hour work week on your blog plus everything else — stoves, private communications, cooking, gardening, don’t forget the bunnies, etc. — was your normal!)
Well, she IS your daughter! Congratulations to her and your whole family,
A little belated (I’ve been off in the Real World being driven crazy for the last week or so), but congratulations, Miss Smith, and a warm welcome to the club of Those With A Bit Of Paper To Their Names! And a birthday as well? I had my 62nd of those a couple of weeks ago … if it could’ve been on Feb 29th I’d only be 16 …
@EM – “I’m basically still just a ‘big kid’ even now…” … I know exactly what you mean. I still feel as bewildered / mad keen / etc. sometimes these days as I did when I was 16. When, I wonder, does the “Wisdom of the Elders” finally arrive? ;-)