Commencement (4): Processional
Part IV and last of Commencement
My family basically doesn't read LiveJournal (and I've written more than enough about them, including the Mother's Day post.) My friends *do* read LiveJournal; and so this LiveJournal entry is for my many friends who do read LiveJournal -- for all of you. Enjoy. :-)
They had issued us our gowns with the green velvet facings and the triple green velvet chevrons on our sleeves. They had issued us our caps, our tassels, our cords, all the standard regalia of the academic procession. And like all my classmates milling around the upstairs lobby, these I had already put on. But I still had one more thing to do before the processional sounded and the last march began.
I found a quiet, out of the way nook around the corner from our lobby. Reached into an inside pocket of my suit. And from it I withdrew a pair of carefully folded pieces of cloth. The black hand-embroidered belt favor that texas_tiger had given me so many years before. The larger, white hand-embroidered belt favor that silmaril had created for me, the white cloth now darkened by the dust of Revel Grove and Hollygrove and dozens of SCAdian events from Andelcrag to Roaring Wastes. Out too came a tiny jewel case, containing the silver drop cross thette had sent from overseas, so long ago.
malada and deor's sky-blue geeky binary tie was already knotted in place, just as it was when I had marched two weeks before for the PhD. texas_tiger and silmaril's belt favors went on under my robe. thette's chain and pendant went around my neck and under my shirt. Like a SCAdian preparing to process into royal Court, I checked one last time before assembling into line to make sure my favors and chain were secure underneath my academic robe.
*Now* I was ready to march. :-)
The embroidered belt favors and chain had been with me through Revels, dances, Pubsings and countless other happy, treasured memories. Tangible symbols of the laughter and generosity of so many wonderful friends. And so it was with pride that I wore them as I marched with my classmates into Hill Auditorium's grandeur; as I accepted the green velvet hood; as I stood to take the Oath.
Jesse was there at graduation day to celebrate in person, almost five years to the day silmaril first introduced us to each other in the Armory at U. Maryland. And so too was _constantine, my SCAdian godfather; _constantine who had made a ten-hour round trip by car in a single day just to be at Commencement. Jesse and _constantine were there, cheering for all they were worth and throwing thumbs-up from the balcony edge seats as I processed directly beneath them. And in spirit, so were all the rest of you.
Thank you, my friends, for all your generosity, for your laugther, for your congratulations expressed by LJ, by e-mail, by phone and even in person. Thank you, my friends, for everything. And a toast, to everything yet to come. :-)
My family basically doesn't read LiveJournal (and I've written more than enough about them, including the Mother's Day post.) My friends *do* read LiveJournal; and so this LiveJournal entry is for my many friends who do read LiveJournal -- for all of you. Enjoy. :-)
They had issued us our gowns with the green velvet facings and the triple green velvet chevrons on our sleeves. They had issued us our caps, our tassels, our cords, all the standard regalia of the academic procession. And like all my classmates milling around the upstairs lobby, these I had already put on. But I still had one more thing to do before the processional sounded and the last march began.
I found a quiet, out of the way nook around the corner from our lobby. Reached into an inside pocket of my suit. And from it I withdrew a pair of carefully folded pieces of cloth. The black hand-embroidered belt favor that texas_tiger had given me so many years before. The larger, white hand-embroidered belt favor that silmaril had created for me, the white cloth now darkened by the dust of Revel Grove and Hollygrove and dozens of SCAdian events from Andelcrag to Roaring Wastes. Out too came a tiny jewel case, containing the silver drop cross thette had sent from overseas, so long ago.
malada and deor's sky-blue geeky binary tie was already knotted in place, just as it was when I had marched two weeks before for the PhD. texas_tiger and silmaril's belt favors went on under my robe. thette's chain and pendant went around my neck and under my shirt. Like a SCAdian preparing to process into royal Court, I checked one last time before assembling into line to make sure my favors and chain were secure underneath my academic robe.
*Now* I was ready to march. :-)
The embroidered belt favors and chain had been with me through Revels, dances, Pubsings and countless other happy, treasured memories. Tangible symbols of the laughter and generosity of so many wonderful friends. And so it was with pride that I wore them as I marched with my classmates into Hill Auditorium's grandeur; as I accepted the green velvet hood; as I stood to take the Oath.
Jesse was there at graduation day to celebrate in person, almost five years to the day silmaril first introduced us to each other in the Armory at U. Maryland. And so too was _constantine, my SCAdian godfather; _constantine who had made a ten-hour round trip by car in a single day just to be at Commencement. Jesse and _constantine were there, cheering for all they were worth and throwing thumbs-up from the balcony edge seats as I processed directly beneath them. And in spirit, so were all the rest of you.
Thank you, my friends, for all your generosity, for your laugther, for your congratulations expressed by LJ, by e-mail, by phone and even in person. Thank you, my friends, for everything. And a toast, to everything yet to come. :-)