Well, here we are. All set to go. All we need are some "graduates."
PS9 - Angela's Graduation / Paul's Birthday / Miscellaneous NS Family
Well, here we are. All set to go. All we need are some "graduates."
They got the Sackville High School band to play the "baaaa... ba ba
baaa baaaaaaa baaaaaaa..." part. And yes, they had to keep it up until
every
graduate took their seat. Mind-numbingly boring, of course. I mean, this
isn't Harvard.
Some streamers fell from the ceiling from time to time and came to
a soft landing right on top of the graduates. I was in a hurry to snap
this in mid-air, so I didn't get the camera steadied properly. (You can
tell I was really bored, if I was waiting to capture this photo.)
These two pictures are a little washed out, but Paul uses Funtime instead
of a real film like Superia, Gold, or Max, so the pictures on his CD are
less vivid, and I don't feel like using them. Anyway, you can see here
that Angela is really happy to finally get her degree - and she's
in a situation where she probably won't have to get another one (unlike
myself - I am in danger of becoming a career student, then a teacher, because
I can't really do anything that well... but that's another story).
From left to right: Paul (Angela's fianceé), Angela (stepsister), Paul (stepfather).
The personal meetings were by far the best part of the evening for
all, I think.
"In respect of the academic process, we ask that you please remain
seated at all times during the convocation." Now, in fairness, I took this
before the "party" started, but I did get up to stretch my legs a few times,
and believe me, I was far from the only one. Even Paul felt the need to
move around, and he's in a wheelchair!
Like, they actually got people to go watch this boooooooooorrrrring
ceremony? The keynote speaker was former Nova Scotia premier John Savage,
and if he wasn't my old Film & Video teacher's father, I'd say he must
be going pretty cheap now. =) His speech consisted of making everyone feel
guilty for everything they have, even though Nova Scotia is one of Canada's
poorest provinces (but we don't act like it, which is why we're so far
in debt). He talked about the sags in health care and education, but forgot
to mention all the spending cutbacks under his government. And since
it was a graduation speech, and since he was recieving an honorary degree,
you'd think he'd say something uplifting about education or about life.
Well, he didn't. <sigh> I guess all this ceremony and honorary degree
nonsense is not for the audience, it's for the participants. But wait,
it's not for them either, is it? Who is this all for? I guess it's
just to justify our high tuition - how much does Saint Mary's have to plunk
down to get the Halifax Metro Centre every year?
Here are the folks getting ready to enjoy a game of Parchesi. This
was taken several months ago. From left to right: Colin (1st cousin), Kobe Bryant, Shaqueal O'Neal, Uncle Cliff, Erin (1st cousin), Stuart (1st cousin), Mom. Yes, my mom likes horses and welsh corgis.
This is a picture I took out on the deck at Paul's 55th birthday party,
July 1, 2002. From left to right: Angela (stepsister, a former
babysitter of Zachary and Alex), Ed (step first cousin once removed),
an unknown older person, Freida (step grand aunt), Frances (neighbour),
Paul (stepfather), Zachary (neighbour, part-time bike
mechanic, early publisher of "How to
be a Moron.").
From left to right: Angela (as realized by Mom),
Paul, Brad (as realized by P.L. Holland).
Mike (my first cousin once removed) & Carol (his wife) came down
later on in the afternoon, bringing Catherine and Jeff. Great conversation
ensued. From left to right: Jeff (second cousin), Catherine (second cousin).
Makes the deck seem really cozy now, doesn't it?