Happy Graduation

Two thirds of a party, that’s what we did. We tried to celebrate Samantha’s graduation, birthday, commissioning in one fell swoop but fell short by one celebration. We celebrated Sam’s birthday and her graduation from the University of North Carolina (with honors). Her commissioning will have to wait until September thanks to Army bureaucracy. 

Growing up in two households, Sam was loved twice as much, but life event celebrations were never big events. She never had a Sweet Sixteen party, or went crazy on her 21st Birthday. Her graduation from High School was a subdued affair and she only had a small get together for graduating from Community College in New York.

This time we tried to make it up to her.

This was a celebration for me to recognize her accomplishments among my friends and open the house to her and all of her fellow officers and classmates. In the end we had about forty people from two the invitation lists.  

Lisa ordered a yard sign that took up the whole front yard. The boys pitched in and did every chore asked of them leading up to the party. Our neighbors let us borrow chairs and tables.  Everything looked great.

We cooked a lot of food… Five racks of smoked ribs. Twenty pounds of pulled pork. Three pounds of baked beans. An order of chicken from Chik-fil-A. Plus snacks. And five gallons of homemade beer made by Shawn Jury. 

We had people in the driveway. The garage bar was packed with people from both invite lists talking and having fun. The back patio was full. The kitchen conversations went on and on – at one point I was asked my opinion as an Army officer and I proceeded to “hold court” for the next thirty minutes. Everyone piled into the garage for a toast to Samantha and all of her successes.

It was a blur. Our four hour party went for five and half hours. Everyone had a good time. A friend reached out the other day and told me that we have the best parties.

We are incredibly proud of her for all of these accomplishments. As she heads into adulthood we know we will have less time with her in our presence. It is both joyous and sad. We still have one third of a party to go! Let's see if we can send her off in style!