Graduation(s)

I graduated from Law School. Feels good to be done, I guess. I do feel blessed I was able to get into a great school and that I was able to get a good job lined up. It seems that law school has worked out really well for our family. I'd like to thank my wonderful wife for taking a chance on going back to school with me. It wasn't what she thought she signed up for when she married me, and I am so grateful she put up with three long years of it. Without a doubt, getting through law school was a bigger accomplishment for her than it was for me.

I remembered that this is my real diploma shortly after these photos and was grateful Sabrina didn't stick it in her mouth or roll it through the grass.

Clark loves hats.

Graduation didn't feel like a really big deal for me. I guess that part of the reason it was such a big deal for a lot of the graduates is that for most of them this represents the end of 20 straight years of school. Now they have to become adults. The other thought that came to me is that most of them hadn't graduated from Marine Corps Recruit Depot. I went to boot camp on May 9, and graduated from law school on May 19. That is totally insignificant, but I thought it would be fun to have some then and now pictures comparing boot camp graduation to law school graduation.

Thomas Jefferson is pretty cool, but I think my drill instructors earned my respect a little more than old Mr. Jefferson. They certainly demanded more - I think part of law school graduation not being a big deal is that once you are in law school you will graduate with very little effort. No struggle equals no sense of accomplishment I guess. Getting in to a good law school and getting a job afterwards are the real struggles. Believe me, there was plenty of rejoicing after both of those events.

I love these two pictures because they both show little ladies in my life who are always proud of me. Next to my wife these are the two most wonderful women in the world. 

The graduation robes looked nicer than I thought they would, but it is hard to beat a Marine Corps uniform. One point goes to law school uniform, though, since my mother-in-law kindly ironed my robes for me, whereas I had to iron my own shirt in boot camp.

Finally, here is a video from Sabrina's "graduation" from her first year of pre-school. She had a great year. We hope her school next year will be as good.