Ceremonies and Celebration

Cher wrote, in 1989, "If I Could Turn Back Time."  Well, on the 142nd day of 2022, the Penn Campus did just that.  5/22/2022 was the two-year delayed celebration of the Class of 2020's University Commencement.  Added in, also, were the 2021 Graduate and Professional grads from 2021 as only Undergraduates were invited to last year's, guest-free ceremony.  And, although it was hot and humid and we (the marshals) were undermanned as many could not make it, but over 3,500 graduates sure could!, it was a wonderful ceremony and exactly what was needed for them, albeit later than any of us would have liked.  As i was walking up to the ceremony with one of my fellow marshals, I remarked how important it is to ceremonially celebrate important milestones in our lives.  He answered with a phrase common in his homeland of the UK, "hatches, matches, and dispatches!"  Well, today's celebration had nothing to do with births, weddings, or funerals, but I would add graduations to the list of important milestones that must be celebrated along the way.  My Two for 2022 are Ceremonies and Celebration.  This was my third ceremony in FF in the week, and I am not going to lie, my feet are glad it is the last for a while, but I am so glad the graduates were able to celebrate and put a bow on the end of their academic time at Penn.  Congratulations, again, to the Class of 2020 and the Grad/Prof Class of 2021.  Now I am off to soak my feet and hang that regalia up until next year!