1. Family. I was thrilled to be surrounded by Shawn, Riley, Adrian, Allison, CE, Claire, Mom, Dad, Grandpa, Grandma Toni, Aunt Marybeth, Uncle Scott, and Brendan (who was a surprise guest! He flew in Saturday morning! So cool!) What a crew! It was awesome to have so many family members around me to celebrate graduation and enjoy a weekend on the mountain. Thank you all for coming! It meant so much to me!
2. The School of Letters. It was great to see John Grammar, Meg Binnicker, and nine of my classmates. Yes, we, the SOL class of 2011, all stood out as the old ones among a sea of undergrads, but it was great to catch up with everyone and hear about the exciting changes in their lives (new jobs, new babies, etc.). And John and Meg are two individuals I admire so much. They are wonderful, warm-hearted people. I am so glad I had the chance to celebrate with them and thank them for everything these past five years. Our School of Letters party was an excellent way to cap off a great weekend.
3. Dinner at High Point. I think it was my second summer at Sewanee that I had dinner with a guest speaker and a group of speakers at High Point. I knew then that I wanted my graduation dinner to be there, and I cannot believe that dinner has already come and gone! But we had a great time! A three-hour meal filled with conversation, and laughs, and good food. Thanks, Mom and Dad, for an amazing celebratory dinner!
4. Sewanee Adventures. Though the weekend was short, I still had the chance to go to Stirlings, the bookstore, the Lemon Fair, and a new ice cream place in Sewanee. We also enjoyed fried pies and live music at the Smokehouse! I feel so whole and full when I am on the Domain. As we were driving up Friday night, I could feel my excitement grow. I told Shawn that Sewanee was my favorite place to be. I hope one day to get back there.
5. The ceremony. Sewanee's Commencement Ceremony is mostly in Latin. So cool! Shawn and Dad "walked" with me to receive my diploma and hood, while the rest of the gang watched the kids and the ceremony from big screen televisions. The speeches were solid, and I especially enjoyed the Vice Chancellor's parting words for the graduates. He talked about Memory and Hope, and how those forces work to make life meaningful. I also really enjoyed the hymns. Two interesting observations about Sewanee undergrads - they leave their robes open and they don't wear caps. All in all, the ceremony was beautiful, and I cannot express how great it felt to walk out among the cheering faculty proudly holding my diploma and wearing my MFA hood.
It is hard to believe I started Sewanee in a dorm room without any kids. My mom was the first to stay with me. We spend a week filled with walks to the Blue Chair, evenings rocking at the dorm, nights watching House, and adventures all over the area. What a great start! By the end of my time, I brought two children to the Domain, Shawn stayed the whole summer, family visited frequently, we had a weekly basketball game, I had read thousands of pages (a couple thousand in the last summer alone!), I had written nine stories and six major essays, and Sewanee felt like home. I am so fortunate to have such a supportive husband. Thanks, Babe, for making my dream possible.
These past five years have inspired, challenged, and fulfilled me. I am not only a better writer and reader and thinker now, but a better person. To my family, to Sewanee, to the School of Letters, to my peers, to my teachers (especially Ellen and Michael), thank you!
Now I have a thesis to publish and new adventures in the near, near future. Stay tuned...
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