My apologies for the lack of posts of late. Things have been rather busy over the last couple weeks. Perhaps, most excitingly, I went home last weekend to watch my younger sister, Carly, graduate from college!
This was my first time back to Nebraska since February so I was really looking forward to seeing friends and family! Carly graduated from Concordia University, the same school where I got my undergraduate degree so it was nice seeing so many familiar faces.
I got into Omaha Friday morning where I was picked up by my Grandfather. He insisted we go out for breakfast so I enjoyed a delicious (yet surely artery-clogging) Grand Slamwich from Denny's. Once we got back to Seward we pretty much went straight up to the school so we could watch Carly throw discus and the hammer at her track meet. That evening, the family got together for a quick bite to eat at Runza, another place I have missed since being in New York. We then went to the baccalaureate service at St. John Church. I guess I didn't realize how many people I had thought already graduated were still going to school. Nevertheless, it was fun to see so many school friends. That night I was able to spend some time with several friends up at the Gallery.
Saturday was graduation day. For just the second time, the ceremony was held in the new Health, Human Performance and Athletic Center. It's hard to believe that it's already been one year since I was the one walking across the stage. This year has certainly flown by. After the ceremony, the crowd of happy gruduates and their families spilled outside onto the surrounding sidewalks for seemingly endless photo taking. After eating lunch at the campus center we then headed over to the Friedrich's residence where Carly and several of her friends were hosting their reception. I'm not gonna lie...I was pretty psyched to eat...especially the cake and mints. Besides the company of food and friends, the party also offered some friendly games of croquet and bocce ball. For the record, I found out I am very bad at bacce ball. That night I got to together with some friends at my friends Danny's house. It was nice getting to spend some time with them before I came back to New York and they all went home for the summer.
While the weekend was certainly fun, it was also a little sad. Now that Carly has graduated I feel that one of my last real connections to the university has been severed. Yes, I will always be an alumni, and yes, I still have friends who are attending school there. But the fact that another connection to the university has come to an end evokes a strange feeling that is hard to describe. I guess I'll just have to work hard so I can some day return to the university as a member of the faculty...here's hoping!
