On the Road in Beantown

Time for a quick update from Boston, now that I've got a computer to play with for a little while! It's been crazzzy. Last week was eaten up by moving BC girl out of her 4th floor dorm, doing a little makeover on my sister's yard and deck, and shopping for graduation party food. Meanwhile, Lloyd decided to start a home improvement project on my parents' place, installing a sprinkler system, so my mother doesn't have to stand outside with the hose keeping the grass seed patches watered...

The graduation Sunday morning was, um, EARLY. The diplomas were given out during department ceremonies that began at 8 am. Yes, 8 am. Brandeis girl, being a European Cultural Studies and German double major (magna cum laude, I'm proud to say) joined the large Humanities ceremony. She was one of 3 ECS majors and the only German major. The speeches were mixed. The undergrad speaker gave a rather annoying sing songy cutesy talk seeking empathy from her fellow grads about misery in high school because apparently she was such a geek she had no friends and got stuck in lockers, and how she found a happier life among fellow geeks at Brandeis. My daughter and her friends were more insulted than empathetic, never having been stuck in a locker or friendless in high school. The PhD student speaker was much better, an Indian immigrant who was a popular TA in the English dept. The faculty speaker was OK. But the gym we were in was warm and crowded, and we were ready to get out of there.

The main graduation began at 10:30. The Branches Pan Groove Steel Orchestra provided the processional and recessional tunes. It was AWESOME! Branches has performed for audiences in New England over the past 25 years, and is made up primarily of youths under the age of 18. Very festive atmosphere, for sure! It took almost half an hour to get all the trustees, faculty, PhD's, MS's and BA's seated, but they all danced their way in. Bill Schneider, CNN political analyst and Brandeis '66 alum gave an excellent address to the Class of 2008. A big net full of balloons was loosed on the grads. Then they danced their way out (you haven't lived until you've heard 'Dancing Queen' played by a steel drum band) and we were free to gather the clan at my sister's house.

And what a gathering it was. The weather was a bit cool and cloudy, so people pretty much stayed inside, so they didn't get to appreciate all our yard work and deck makeover...but now she's set for the summer parties.

All seven of us kids were present and accounted for, the first time in YEARS we have all been in one place simultaneously.
Here is the evidence: In order, top row, me, Linda, Mark, Annie, Mary. Next row has Janet, mom and dad, then Carol. I'll have to dig up the pix of the last time or two this convergence happened, for a historical posting. The next photo is of the grandkids with my parents. We were missing Janet's Faye (who is in NM) and Annie's Layla (in Portland, OR). The one shot I found with Annie's Liam in there was blurry and he had his arm across his face. I'll have to see if anyone has a better shot of the cousins and repost. I hope some day soon we'll have all of THEM in one place at one time for a group photo!!!! The top row has Linda's sons Patrick (who graduated last week from Maine College of Art), Ryan, Kevin, and Janet's son Paul. Alina, Mary's Sydney and Keara flank Grandma and Grandpa.

Not to waste any time, Brandeis required seniors to be out by noon on Monday. Keara was the last of the 4 to leave, which meant we had to clean out the fridge, pantry, cabinets as well as her own room. It was after 1 when we left. But she scored two George Forman grills, a blender, a full set of silverware, Williams Sonoma pot holders, towels, and apron (all coordinated) and a nearly new Kitchen Aide pan. Thank God Annie had Don's truck. We moved K into her new place in Allston, picked up a futon Alina bought on Craigslist from a recent BU grad who was moving out, and moved that into Alina's summer digs in Cleveland Circle. Are we done yet? NO. We then drove back to get Lloyd in Waltham, returned to Keara's, and took the T into FENWAY, where we got to see Jon Lester's NO HITTER!!!!!!!

It was a good thing I had a Dunkin Donuts coffee before the game. It was spectacular and I stayed awake. Thanks to Michael for the tix! Great seats! Then we walked back to Keara's because no trolleys or busses seemed to be moving. We got home around 11:30.

Now, it's Tuesday. Lloyd is out working on the ditches for the sprinkler system. I took the car in for servicing this morning. It needs 2 new tires (already) and an alignment (Boston potholes). Then I'll move Alina into her room in Brighton. A few more up and down stairs with boxes. I'll be happy to fly back to the Gorge on Sunday!!!