Christine sent a personal invitation to about fifty of our closest family friends, inviting them to her graduation ceremony at the lovely Courtyard Marriott in Ballantyne the evening of June 25.

As I noted in my facebook status on June 25, all day it felt like we were preparing for Christine’s wedding, instead of her graduation. (it was good practice, I observed.) Some of us had seized the chance to get new clothes for the event… <grin>… and everything was perfect - hair, nails, accessories… We arrived at the Courtyard shortly before 7pm, put everything in place, and waited for guests to arrive.

It was at this point, while we were intently focused on the graduation… that Michael Jackson had the nerve to die and thus steal the limelight.

People arrived, carefully dressed and full of warm wishes for Christine. The atmosphere was quiet, stately, almost regal, as everyone found a seat… there was a moment of brief silence… before Mary walked to the front and started speaking.

What she said was so funny that we all starting laughing, and from that point on it was an informal time of “roasting” Christine, reminding each other how great she is, and having cake (graduations appear to be inextricably tied to cake. Again, like weddings. You see my point here…)

When Christine got up to speak, she took a moment to collect herself, reviewing serious thoughts about life and the national economy which she was about to deliver… and then she looked up to see our entire family wearing either monkey masks or false noses (the kind with eyebrows and glasses attached). Yup, my mom’s idea. Never say we aren’t afraid to make fools of ourselves. :-)

The evening ended in a happy glow – that’s the best way I can describe it. When time seems to slow down and all the sudden it’s late and you’re standing in the parking lot under the stars, happily chatting with friends, not wanting to say goodbye and have the sweetness of this time come to an end.