Here are a couple of photos of graduation, courtesy of Aunt Karrie.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Harvard Graduation
Wow. I can not believe that 4 years have gone by. Sonny may have a different opinion. Although he did admit that with the exception of his freshman year, the time flew by. I remember checking into our hotel during our recruiting trip, Feb.05 I must admit I was a little scared. I have never been good at planning in advance...but 4 yrs? when we weren't even sure if he was going to say yes? duh. Can anyone really say no to Harvard? I think Kevin and I were impressed with the coaching staff and what they thought of Sonny. Uncle Michael joined our group and gave us an up close and personal tour of the Harvard business school. The snow made everything crystal clear. It was cold, but beautiful. Sonny met guys just like himself, smart and athletic, but having that hunger to push themselves harder...could they do it? would they choose too? OK,,I am rambling. Since I don't think anyone actually reads this other than me..too bad.
My sister Karrie went with me on this last trip. It only made sense. She has been with me to Harvard during my most challenging "chemo-year" and took such great care of me. Those of you who have kept up with my blog know that she has been there for me in everyway possible. The extended Barnett clan has also been great fun to celebrate with post-game! Karrie's decision to go with me to celebrate Sonny's graduation was because she knew all of his roommates and friends, and then their friend's parents' and brothers and sisters and girlfriends etc....and everyone loves Aunt Karrie! She also went to be with me. There is nothing greater than celebrating with someone who knows how much this means.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you. NYU in 3 yrs?
Graduation
Harvard is small. Undergraduates were about 1600. Sonnys high school had a total of 3300. Don't quote me on these numbers. It is too late to do an official google search..and this is my best recollection. Needless to say.. that is why during the last week of college life at Harvard the entire class goes to Six Flags, a harbor cruise, a last chance Dance, a Soiree etc.....they really do bond and exchange promises of staying in touch. See at Harvard it is a lot harder that many other schools. They have a large international population to add to the national east/west challenges of staying in touch. Do all of you know that Facebook was started in 2005 at Harvard by a couple of undergraduates? Now most of us, including parents! have facebook accounts. The world is getting smaller due to technology.
Sorry for the sidebar.
Cambridge had signs hung everywhere,,congrats to class of 2009. In the windows of storefronts, banks, small boutiques etc. Anywhere we went we were asked if we had a graduate. The community takes such pride in their students' success.
Karrie and I arrived at our B & B and quickly ran out to meet Sonny for the family picnic at the field behind the football stadium. We reminisced about the past fall football game vs. Yale, and how Harvard shut them out. We had so many memories, including the white squirel. Karrie is great about stopping and breathing it all in. She has that photographers mind that really can just look around and enjoy the moment I love that about her. She forces me to slow down and enjoy the moment. It was so hard to do because we had such a tight schedule.
We made our way back to our B & B via the coop to purchase a few things.
Wednesday promised to be a great day. The Phoenix, Sonny's final's club, had decided to host a luncheon for the graduating seniors' and their families.
We felt like we were back in the ages of JFK. The room was set, the food was incredible and the speeches were unforgetable.
Then we went to the Class Graduation with Matt Lauer. I don't think anyone Sonny's age even knew who he was. There were 4 class speeches given prior to Matt Lauer and they were incredible. So Matt has to take the stage. He was great. We enjoyed him immensely.
Thursday, Karrie and I got up at 5. Yep. That would be 2 our time. We decided it was worth it. We wanted to see our guys walk down the aisle. We did it! We got the best seats! I will put the video on this once I get it up.
What a joy it was to hear the speakers. We had our umbrellas for the potential rain, but we ended up using them for the sun! After the commencement we all headed back to the individual "houses" Kirkland for Sonny's group. We had a luncheon and then the ceremony to award the diplomas. Then we headed back to the Yard to hear the President of Harvard speak and also the newly appointed Secy of Energy: Steven Chu , no one was expecting much but he was really great. Pres. Faust said she wished that the Obama White House would just stop snatching up their professors.
What a wonderful weekend.
If anyone is actually reading this, I want to say how proud I am of all of our "kids" that are heading off to college. Many of us have graduates that we are so stoked about,,,and have other kids heading off to begin their journey.
Begin your journey with a purpose. Best of luck.
Nancy
My sister Karrie went with me on this last trip. It only made sense. She has been with me to Harvard during my most challenging "chemo-year" and took such great care of me. Those of you who have kept up with my blog know that she has been there for me in everyway possible. The extended Barnett clan has also been great fun to celebrate with post-game! Karrie's decision to go with me to celebrate Sonny's graduation was because she knew all of his roommates and friends, and then their friend's parents' and brothers and sisters and girlfriends etc....and everyone loves Aunt Karrie! She also went to be with me. There is nothing greater than celebrating with someone who knows how much this means.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you. NYU in 3 yrs?
Graduation
Harvard is small. Undergraduates were about 1600. Sonnys high school had a total of 3300. Don't quote me on these numbers. It is too late to do an official google search..and this is my best recollection. Needless to say.. that is why during the last week of college life at Harvard the entire class goes to Six Flags, a harbor cruise, a last chance Dance, a Soiree etc.....they really do bond and exchange promises of staying in touch. See at Harvard it is a lot harder that many other schools. They have a large international population to add to the national east/west challenges of staying in touch. Do all of you know that Facebook was started in 2005 at Harvard by a couple of undergraduates? Now most of us, including parents! have facebook accounts. The world is getting smaller due to technology.
Sorry for the sidebar.
Cambridge had signs hung everywhere,,congrats to class of 2009. In the windows of storefronts, banks, small boutiques etc. Anywhere we went we were asked if we had a graduate. The community takes such pride in their students' success.
Karrie and I arrived at our B & B and quickly ran out to meet Sonny for the family picnic at the field behind the football stadium. We reminisced about the past fall football game vs. Yale, and how Harvard shut them out. We had so many memories, including the white squirel. Karrie is great about stopping and breathing it all in. She has that photographers mind that really can just look around and enjoy the moment I love that about her. She forces me to slow down and enjoy the moment. It was so hard to do because we had such a tight schedule.
We made our way back to our B & B via the coop to purchase a few things.
Wednesday promised to be a great day. The Phoenix, Sonny's final's club, had decided to host a luncheon for the graduating seniors' and their families.
We felt like we were back in the ages of JFK. The room was set, the food was incredible and the speeches were unforgetable.
Then we went to the Class Graduation with Matt Lauer. I don't think anyone Sonny's age even knew who he was. There were 4 class speeches given prior to Matt Lauer and they were incredible. So Matt has to take the stage. He was great. We enjoyed him immensely.
Thursday, Karrie and I got up at 5. Yep. That would be 2 our time. We decided it was worth it. We wanted to see our guys walk down the aisle. We did it! We got the best seats! I will put the video on this once I get it up.
What a joy it was to hear the speakers. We had our umbrellas for the potential rain, but we ended up using them for the sun! After the commencement we all headed back to the individual "houses" Kirkland for Sonny's group. We had a luncheon and then the ceremony to award the diplomas. Then we headed back to the Yard to hear the President of Harvard speak and also the newly appointed Secy of Energy: Steven Chu , no one was expecting much but he was really great. Pres. Faust said she wished that the Obama White House would just stop snatching up their professors.
What a wonderful weekend.
If anyone is actually reading this, I want to say how proud I am of all of our "kids" that are heading off to college. Many of us have graduates that we are so stoked about,,,and have other kids heading off to begin their journey.
Begin your journey with a purpose. Best of luck.
Nancy
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