![Hold Back the Dawn [DVD] Charles Boyer; Olivia de Havilland; Paulette Goddard](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41AkExBJQsL._SL75_.jpg)
Tales out of school
Thursday, July 23, 2020 at 06:44PM 
The giddy graduate
In going back through my pictures from the past several months, I realize there are a number of special occasions about which I have not yet told you.
A situation which, I think you will agree, must be remedied, and that without delay.
So let's get started.
Mommy and me
If you've been paying attention and following along, you know that our Dagny matriculated in kindergarten last fall.
I wrote about that momentous milestone, and shared a number of photos, here.
Aunt Erica gets a shot
Then, as we know, it turned into a weird year and she, like all the other children, experienced "distance learning" from the end of March.
On the twenty-second of May, there was a greatly abbreviated graduation "ceremony" in the sanctuary of the church of which Dagny's school is a ministry.
Papaw takes a knee
(It seems wrong to even call it a ceremony; it was most unremarkable, flat, dull, lifeless, and altogther unsatisfying. I'm still trying to figure out how a few five-year-olds marching down an aisle -- six feet apart -- to some music, and sitting -- six feet apart -- in a few pews, miles from everyone else, would encourage the spread of the CCP virus. But apparently now, we are required to approach every situation with abject terror in lieu of actual logic.)
I may be a trifle bored
We did assemble, though, and for that we were grateful. As I said, there was no entrance by the graduates to the strains of Pomp and Circumstance; Elgar was allowed to rest for the evening.
The kids merely wore their caps and gowns and sat with their families until they were called up to receive their certificate of graduation, which was proffered to them from the end of a ten-foot pole by an unidentified person wearing full HazMat garb and standing behind a lead curtain.
Hey Mamaw it's me Dagny
Just kidding about part of that. You can figure out which part.
The service we attended was for K-5 through sixth grade; the K-3s were left out in the cold and the high school graduation took place on a different night.
Graduating is not so bad after all
Naturally we were all there: Audrey and Dagny, TG and me, Chad and Erica. The usual suspects. Other family members watched online.
There were a few happy moments in the lobby before we sat down for the short service. Dagny with her Aunt Erica; Dagny with Papaw; Dagny with her mom. I took all of them with my phone.
Dagny was excited to see her classmates again, if only from afar. Afterwards we had a wonderful reunion with her teacher. I regret that Dagny did not get to benefit from a whole year with Mrs. K.
My first diploma
Afterwards we gathered at Chad and Erica's house for a small family celebration (you know how we are about pawtying).
I had bought a cake which turned out to be mostly icing and rather disgusting in that regard but it was pretty shades of pink and small -- six slices exactly.
Pink is my favorite color
Poor Chad got an end piece which involved perhaps two bites of cake and two cups of frosting, but he didn't complain.
Dagny received some gifts and stuffed toys and there were balloons and she seemed thrilled.
A few days later, Dagny braved the waves for the first swim of the season.
In full-on party mode
It was still too cold for us grownups but she declared it refreshing.
Now the water is at least eighty-eight degrees and feels like a spa treatment.
Delightful, given that we are enduring the dog days of summer.
School days, pool days
But for Dagny, first grade looms. The word came this week that they will be resuming classes on schedule, in person, maskless, five days a week.
Common sense has prevailed in at least one (very important) area of life, for which we are thankful.
We will keep moving forward, armed with equal parts optimism and determination.
And that is all for now.
=0=0=0=
Happy Thursday
Reader Comments (14)
Oh my goodness! Our Dagny is growing up! She is really changing and is such a pretty little girl. No surprise there because her Mom is gorgeous and they both obviously take after Grandma!
I love the smile on her face in each of these photos. She is having a great time, but it really is sad that the ceremony was so short and without pomp and circumstance.
I'm happy to hear school is starting as usual for her. We still don't know what's happening here.
@Mari ... I fear it won't go as smoothly for your littles, but I am praying that I'm wrong. We have been fortunate in South Carolina, all things considered. Thank you for the compliments and of course I think my girls are gorgeous! The best part, as you know, is that they are well and happy. xoxo
Congratulations to your little graduate! Her socks with the lace trim are adorable! I agree the cake looks beautiful but all that icing? Yuck! I guess it has to be thick to have that beautiful design! Enjoy your weekend!
@Jeanette ... Thank you and yes, it was truly nasty. But there weren't many choices that looked adequately festive in the six-inch variety, and we try to keep dessert servings to a minimum as we're all watching our girlish waistlines, hahahahaha! You have a great weekend too. Stay cool! xoxo
Sam would have eaten everyone's icing - forget the cake. Dagny looks suitably pleased with her now first grade status. I feel for the students who are in limbo with school. There is a possibility my Denver Grands will attend school. However, the others are still not sure what their district will implement. Sam definitely wants to go - he misses recess. The twins are Seniors and still haven't decided on colleges because campus visits and interviews are on hold. Even their SAT's were cancelled. Both A & B are working their summer jobs and mingling with the public, so they don't really know why they can't go back to school. I know it's a worry for them because they need to make decisions now that are important for their futures. Sorry for rambling!
@Barb ... Ugh! I would've gone halvesies with Sam and I know he could have had ALL of TG's icing. Don't apologize for rambling on that subject here; this is one of those famed safe spaces, as long as you don't go off on a leftist tangent (not likely). It's all so confusing. Soon I will be writing on the "Opinion :: Issues of Interest to Some" tab of this web site, about some aspects of this complicated subject. I need to get certain things off me pirate chest, as it were. I hope your grands are able to go back to classes, and resume planning for their futures, without more delay. BTW I loved the pictures of your squirrel visitor, and the vids of the moose and bear. I must admit the bear scared me. Yikes. xoxo
Congratulations to Dagny! She is really growing up fast and looks so pretty. I love the picture of her resting her elbows on the table.....such a cutie! May she have a great year in first grade!
@Cheryl ... thank you, my friend! I know she'll be glad to get back among her little friends. xoxo
Well, first of all let me say that DAGNY (love her name) is beyond adorable!!! And secondly, I just hate for her and so many other students that they missed out on so many milestones. My two grandchildren (17 & 14) will be returning to school next week and while I am "anxious" about it I know it's what they want and need. As a retired teacher, I absolutely believe that a computer screen can never replace a real live teacher!!!!! I wanted you to know too how very much I appreciate the lovely comment you wrote on my blog. I wrote a reply (I always do) and if you have time I hope you will go back and read it. That was a difficult post to write and I was a little concerned that it would "turn off" some folks but from the (few) comments I got, I think most people have times of realization and reflection...some which are good and some not so much so. I pray that Dagny will have an awesome year (if she is one that is returning to school)...and maybe next year y'all can have more cake than frosting:) (My hubby hates the frosting!!!)
@Cheri ... I loved your post and read every word of it, and I appreciate where you're coming from. It takes courage to share inner thoughts. I normally don't go back and read responses to my comments but this time, I will! Thank you. And don't be anxious for your grandchildren; being in school will be so much better for them than the alternative. Yes all of my four grands who are school age (three are in NC) are returning on a full schedule, without masks. They all attend private schools. We are relieved and hopeful -- and believing God -- for a great year for them. Yes my TG despises the frosting too! I like it but this was TOO MUCH by at least half! Ugh! Haahaha! xoxo
What a beautiful little girl, your 'Granddaughter' is. And what a joy she must be, to you.
Our youngest "Grand," goes into our pool, when it is opened. And we are in upper NYS! So our pool is cold, at that time. No one else wants to brave it, right at first. We think he is part fish, because he loves swimming, in any/all weather!
Gentle hugs,
'Miss Babbling Brook'
"Beside a babbling brook" blog
@Miss Babbling Brook ... Thank you and thanks for visiting! When I was younger (as in, when we first got a pool, fifteen years ago), I'd swim until the water was absolutely bone-chilling. Now I need for it to be practically to a boil, hahahaha! The warm water is so comforting.We had a wonderful time visiting New York (Brooklyn and Westchester County) last year ... xoxo
Hi Jenny The Pirate. I am Ginny, not a pirate. The pictures are so sharp, clear, and good! Dagny does look kind of bored to death at her ceremony, what a shame. Our granddaughter graduated from middle school, and did not have any kind of ceremony. The cake is gorgeous! Thanks for visiting me!
@Ginny ... Thank you for visiting me! And not everyone can be a pirate, haaaahaa. I enjoyed getting to know you a little through your blog. I'm sorry that your granddaughter wasn't able to have a middle school graduation. Surely by the time she graduates "for real," all of this will be a distant memory. xoxo