College Grad Kelly

Today was a day  twenty-three years in the making.    Kelly, our first born,  was receiving a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications from California State University East Bay. Up early to be ready for the 9am commencement ceremony up at the CSUEB campus. Kelly was out the door right around 7am.  Staci and Liz met up at our house and we were on our way around 7:30.

Got to campus, parked, and got some good seats in the bleachers. I brought the stadium chairs so we were golden.  Excitement was filling the air as the place started to fill up. A beautiful warm and sunny morning. Windy too!

Around 8:30, the music started and the parade of students began.  In they came, and came, and came, and came, and came. Seemed like the procession would never end. The only thing longer than the procession was the speeches by the “dignitaries” and whatnot. SNOOZER!!! One cool thing (that got to me) was when they asked the graduates to please stand if they were the first in their family to graduate. Little bit of a lump in my throat when I saw Kelly stand up, turn around and look up at us.  Another cool thing was that we got to share some of the day with Kate. She was up and working the graveyard shift in Okinawa, so through text and phone cam, she got to participate a little in a very special day for the Flaherty family.

 Finally, they had just begun to  start handing out diplomas, when an announcement was made that  the staff and dignitaries would have to evacuate large tent on the field due to high winds. So, after a short 30 minute delay, we finally got so see what we came for. Each grad would come up and receive a diploma, have their name and major announced, then pose for pic with the dean.  When our girl finally stepped up and we heard  ” Kelly Nicole Flaherty – Mass Communications”,   THE CROWD WENT WILD!!!!    Well, our crowd did.   As she was walking back to her seat she waved up to us and we applauded her.  I smiled,  Barb cried, and all is well in the world.