Graduation Weekend

Before I get started, check out the video below this post. My camera's battery was almost dead, so that's why Becca tends to sound like Minnie Mouse at times. Rebecca's graduation went off without a hitch. Grandma and I worked in the kitchen getting everything ready to serve or cook and then serve when we got back from the ceremony. I was folding won tons half an hour before it was time to leave. Somehow I managed to get a shower and then get dressed and ready to go in thirty minutes. Then, we found seats in the already cramped and warm gymnasium, and waited forty-five minutes for the ceremony to start. We were seated literally seven feet from Rebecca, so we could watch her the entire ceremony (actually, we watched the side of her face the whole time, she never would look at us). Then she got up and gave her speech as Salutatorian. It was a good speech - much better than the Valedictorian's, anyway. The conclusion of the speech was pure genius - we don't know what our future will bring, but we certainly need to bring an education to our future. Then she walked across the stage and accepted her diploma, and at around 8:30, we went home. TJ and Grandma watched from the auditorium, lucky dogs - they had air conditioning and back support!

Anyway, home we went and took a few pictures (which I will post as soon as they undergo a little editing). Then everyone else went to change clothes and I worked on getting food ready. The weird thing, looking back, is that I was afraid we wouldn't have enough food. But I didn't even make the tempura chicken or the chocolate won tons, and we were perfectly stuffed. Then we sat around the table, eating and talking until one in the morning. That's when Mom and Dad had to turn in, and the rest of us adjourned to the porch so Calvin could meet Zeus.

The next day, we set up the badminton net and some camp chairs in preparation for the day's festivities. Mom and Dad picked up Zoey (our new, gigantic black lab whose picture I will post shortly). She came with bags of stuff, including a large sleeping pallet. Dad handed her off to me, instructing me to put her leash around my wrist and then to grip it. No sooner had I done so than she started dragging me around the yard. She's a big dog - around sixty pounds (the largest we've ever had). She wouldn't listen to me as I called out her name, trying to get her to stop (she was walking me around the yard!). Anyway, I unleashed her and off she ran, Zeus not far behind her. Zeus was looking at her like he didn't know what she was, and he certainly did not like the attention she seemed to steal from her.

They still battle for attention, but I think they'll make fast friends. And once Zoey got used to us, she became a right bundle of energy! We've never had a dog that would play fetch before, but Zoey loves it! Mom had a frisbee, which she waved in front of Zoey, and then threw it. Zoey was off like a rocket (I've never seen a dog run so fast!), and grabbed the frisbee, and brought it back. It's so weird - she's just like Scrappy - a little short, black, loves her belly rubbed, and is full of little bursts of energy. And Zeus - he's just like Bonnie - laid back, yellow, sweet, loves attention, and lies around most of the day. It's like we have them back.

Last night, Grandma read our fortunes with a deck of cards. Both times she read my fortune, the cards said I had lots of money coming to me (represented by diamond number cards). Also, I had a great love and marriage in my future, but it was with someone I knew now. Hmmm. Every one was quite keen on making suggestions. I'm only grateful that Kim wasn't there - the conversation would have never died! Just kidding, Kim!