Yesterday we attended niece Kirstin’s graduation. We got to their house early and lounged around with family for a bit (I think I snoozed). Went to UCF for the ceremony (I’d gotten a degree from that joint but not much else). If anything, it’s sprawled out since I was there. How sad to see little on-campus rows of fake shops, Subway and Dominoes and the like – I remember Blacksburg and the dingy (yet real) downtown street. At least I didn’t ever go to this… Stepford.

Anyway, this isn’t about me, its about her. Kirstin graduated Summa Cum Laude from University H.S., quite an honor. I sat up in the stands, reading a book, waiting for the ‘R’s to start getting called. But as her time came I found myself beaming all the more, just swelling with a pride I could claim no part of, watching as this young lady walked up on stage to receive her honors and diploma. What a wondrous moment.

I just marveled, as she made her way back to her seat, that this was the girl I carried around Lake Eola when she was a baby, such a little thing in her bundles, a little pink peanut. And now…

I’m so old…!

But congrats, Kirstin!