Awake 6:57 am Temp 19 Cold North wind Overnight West Lafayette, Indiana
Neither Kathy nor I sleep well. We suspect the time difference(4 hrs from
Alaska). The boys pick us up 8:10 am with Chuck, Ruth & Katie following in
their car. Drive over to the Purdue campus & the closest parking garage to
the Elliott Hall of Music where the winter commencement will take place.
We walk fast to get out of the cold and inside the warm building.
@ 9:30 the Commencement begins: Organ music, procession, pomp &
circumstance, national anthem, etc. We see Zack walking down the aisle &
take a few pictures. The advanced degree students were introduced by name
& handed their diplomas while the professional photographers snapped their
photos. This took some time. Then the bachelor and associate degree
graduates have their names projected on a screen on either side of the
stage, 12 per side, as they process to the stage, receive their diplomas,
pose quickly for a photo & walk back to their seat. It was a quicker
method than the advanced degreed graduates but less personal. We estimate
somewhat over a thousand total degrees given out for this winter
commencement during those 2 hrs.
Afterward, we attend a small reception for the new grads @ the engineering
bldg about a 5 min cold walk from the Elliott Hall of Music. The hot
chocolate or punch, meatballs, veggies, crab dip, etc were well received.
Zack gets his picture taken many times decked out in his cap & gown
attire. He walks with an air of rightly deserved pride and happiness.
Chuck volunteers to walk back to the parking garage, get their Volvo &
then pick up his wife, Ruth; daughter Katie; and Zack to minimize their
exposure to this arctic blast of cold winter chill weather. They will
drive Zack back to the parking lot where he get his car and return to pick
up his wimpy Dad; tough wife, Kathy; & many layered brother, Nick, so as
to reduce their exposure to the arctic blast of cold winter chill winds.
We appreciate this thoughtfulness. Chuck & Ruth will then help load most
of Katie's things into their Volvo & transport them back to their Chicago
suburban home. Katie will stay the night @ her apt, then drive her Camaro
back to Chicago tomorrow with us following.
We hang out again @ Zack's studio apt for the rest of the afternoon. Kathy
helps Zack clean out his freezer & refrigerator of spoiled food and washes
a load of dishes. Zack starts packing for his visit with us in Anchorage.
Nick is busy doing some programming for extra credit for his computer
science class @ UW. Monte and Kathy both take turns napping with Zack's
kitties.
Late afternoon, Zack returns the cap and gown and picks Katie up from her
apt. We had invited Katie to join us for dinner @ Spaghetti's. Kathy & I
split a salmon & pasta dinner with salad, very good.
Zack drives Kathy & me to our hotel where we watch some TV before bedtime.
We are so glad we were able to attend our son's graduation @ Purdue. Proud
parents we are!!
Lights out: 11:27
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