Graduation and Mom's visit

After days of cleaning and cooking, we were ready for Richard's graduation. I had ordered a cake early and asked the bakery to write "Pyrrhic" on it because Richard would randomly go around saying "Pyrrhic" all the time earlier in the semester. When I picked up the cake, the bakers had accidently written "Pyrrhic Top" on it instead. RJ thought it was hilarious. Someone must have written the directions as part of the decoration. Oh well. Mom came Friday, just in time for a stretch of bad weather. I cooked all day Saturday and then figured we'd go out to eat at Subway to keep things as clean as possible and not to have to do any further cooking. A little earlier, we heard about a multi-vortex tornado near Bowdle. On our way to Subway, we tuned in the radio and the weather sounded pretty dangerous and impending, so we swiftly changed our plans, went through the Arby's drive-through and sped home fast. Though storms never hit Aberdeen, surrounding areas were visited by large tornadoes, including one EF4 tornado.

Graduation itself was wonderful. Coach Don Meyer spoke and was entertaining as well as insightful. Mike was in the symphonic band and played for the processional and recessional. Both boys were in a cappella choir, except that Mike played piano for the pieces. When Richard's name was called for his diploma, we all shouted "Pyrrhic Top!" as loudly as possible, but he didn't hear us.

After the ceremony, we somehow managed to get out of the Central parking lot and home. Guests had already arrived and Becky and Mom, who left early and got there ahead of us, had made coffee and set everything out. Many friends of both boys came, as well as the Seatons from church, the piano teacher (Mrs. Fischer) and even their music teacher Mrs. Kelly. Our friends Jon and Katy Schaff came by. Matt Dawn did an Irish jig for us and debated the merits of Abraham Lincoln with Dr. Schaff.

I am grateful that the bad storms we had on Saturday, didn't happen on Sunday a few hours earlier and a few miles easterly. If Central had been hit by the large tornado during graduation, I tremble at what would have been left of the graduating class of 2010. As it was, no one was hurt in the storms and the graduating class enjoyed themselves greatly.