Graduation

It was June 2015, on a warm sunny California day. This was not unusual in June, the days are warm and perfect at this time of year. There was the hair, the make up the dress — it had all been organized… My mother and her best friend were in town (from Australia) to celebrate. We were all a little nervous for different reasons, my mother as she wanted to be sure she assimilated well to the American ceremony (us Aussies can be a little crass), D (my mother’s best friend) as she had nervous empathy for my mother and finally I had a nervous excitement about the day of celebration for the biggest accomplishment of my life. I read at the graduation mass. We had a dinner of cold meats and salad with the speeches for the students in the GPPM. My mother sat proud, with her bff beaming, I was ushered to get changed, line up and accept my award. Us RM’s made a detour to the fountain, my joy was overwhelming. The time came for the award, I was elated, my heart could jump out of my chest. I was full.