on saturday, as we waited, in two long lines, side by side,
to process to the stage,
with the cold wind billowing our robes,
there was a moment when
my heart swelled with love.
i sat on the stage, as an alum, as a parent and as a trustee.
being present on saturday is something i will hold dear
for the rest of my life.
my beloved earlham college is a special place.
it is hard to put into words what earlham is really all about
(right jamie?)
but commencement provided a snapshot of the magic.
some folks in gorgeous african robes,
grandparents with eyes filled with pride,
friends, some holding balloons,
people in wheelchairs, parents grinning from ear to ear,
folks wrapped in blankets and quilts against the cold wind.
babes in the arms of young men and women,
rocking gently at the edges of the audience.
the flags of many nations, flapping wildly in the gusts,
honoring our international students.
the grads, keenly aware that they were gathered together one last time...
and the music!
and the words!
especially these,
joanna "gypsy" swanger's
baccalaureate address.
and, oh, the silence....
deep and true.
to process to the stage,
with the cold wind billowing our robes,
there was a moment when
my heart swelled with love.
i sat on the stage, as an alum, as a parent and as a trustee.
being present on saturday is something i will hold dear
for the rest of my life.
my beloved earlham college is a special place.
it is hard to put into words what earlham is really all about
(right jamie?)
but commencement provided a snapshot of the magic.
some folks in gorgeous african robes,
grandparents with eyes filled with pride,
friends, some holding balloons,
people in wheelchairs, parents grinning from ear to ear,
folks wrapped in blankets and quilts against the cold wind.
babes in the arms of young men and women,
rocking gently at the edges of the audience.
the flags of many nations, flapping wildly in the gusts,
honoring our international students.
the grads, keenly aware that they were gathered together one last time...
and the music!
and the words!
especially these,
joanna "gypsy" swanger's
baccalaureate address.
and, oh, the silence....
deep and true.
This one brought a few tears into my eyes. You have done a wonderful job of putting the magic into words . . .
ReplyDeleteYour devotion to Earlham has always been striking, Karen. I keep telling people about it simply because I so admire the kind of people that graduate from there. Hope I have a chance to visit someday - maybe with Shelby?
ReplyDelete