We are back in India.
We got back this morning and by the time we got in bed, it was about 36 hours
since we woke up. It makes a long day. I am getting too old for this stuff.
The last two weeks we
haven’t posted on our blog because, while we were busy and enjoying ourselves,
there wasn’t anything to write about India. So, this week will be kind of a recap/catch up post and then starting next week we’ll be back to business as
usual.
The past two weeks
have been anchored by three key events: Jeremy’s graduation, the celebration of
Carrigan’s birthday, and Isabel’s blessing. Likewise, this blontry (I have just
coined this new word that is a contraction of blog and entry. Pretty exciting,
isn’t it, having a ring-side seat when history was made?) will also focus on
those three events.
Jeremy’s graduation was
an event three years in the making. I am sure it doesn’t seem that way to
Jeremy and Sarah, but the time to me went very quickly. The ceremony was well
organized and nicely run. The truth of the matter however, and I remind myself
of this every time I am responsible for a graduation, is for the graduates and
their guests the only part that really matters is the few seconds he or she is
on the stage. Likewise, the highlight for the Clifford/Lundberg family was
hearing Jeremy’s name called; watching him walk across the stage; seeing him
get hooded; and then the pictures afterward.
Lewis and Clarke did
one thing I thought was unique and pretty cool. After the graduation ceremony,
they had a mini-graduation for the children of those whose parents graduated
that day from law school. I have never seen that before. It was a nice gesture
for the families who also give so much so their “graduate” could achieve that
milestone. Later in the day, Sarah and Jeremy hosted a family celebratory party
at a local park. All in all a very enjoyable day. Now Jeremy just has to
prepare for and pass the Bar Exam. No pressure though. It’s not like failure to
pass that exam would obviate three years of study and preparation. What. Wait.
It would? Oh. Never mind. I’m sure he feels no pressure.
Here are some
pictures of the day:
The next day Sarah
and Jeremy hosted another family event: the celebration of Carrigan’s first
birthday. Her birthday was actually earlier but they held off the celebration
until the weekend of Jeremy’s graduation so his parents and Rae and I could be
there to participate. The food was good; the company better and Sarah made an
amazing looking flower of egg/dairy free cupcakes. In accordance with the
ancient law, Carrigan “ate” her cupcake by mostly smearing it on herself.
Pictures below:
The final event of
the triad was Isabel’s blessing. That took place the following Sunday at Ben
and Becca’s house. With Bishop Glausi presiding. Ben conducted a brief ceremony
and then gave Isabel a blessing. It was an honor to stand in the circle and
help hold her as Ben pronounced her blessing. We took some pictures and then
went back to the park where Becca and Ben threw a picnic dinner and we sat
around and talked until it was time for the little kids to go to bed.
Now that I think of
it, there was a fourth event that happened a few times actually, both in
connection with the above events and just because: Damn Hursts. For those that don’t
know, a Damn Hurst is where the family sits around and talks: telling stories,
joking, and generally enjoying each other’s company. The name comes from a
Hurst family reunion held years ago in Blanding, Utah. Some family members were
in a grocery story buying supplies for dinner when they overheard a couple of
people talking about our reunion and the one woman said, “Those damn Hursts.
All they do is get together and talk!” When that story was told later that day,
the name stuck!
Anyway, next week’s blontry
will be back to talking about India. Until then….
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