A happy family
celebrates my niece Amanda’s graduation, from the left, niece Becky, nephew
Matthew, Amanda, sister-in-law Sonya, my brother Mike.
May 10 through May 15
was my first solo travel post-stroke. I can hardly classify my trip to Virginia
as a solo travel experience, though. The successful air travel to visit my
brother’s family and attend his daughter Amanda’s college graduation was a
cooperative effort that got me ready and got me to my destination and back.
Although husband
Walter stayed behind to work, he was patient and meticulous in making
arrangements and helping me assemble and pack essentials and even things I
considered essential but were not.
Family members, friends
and neighbors, both in Mississippi and Virginia provided helpful suggestions,
encouragement and equipment. Exceptional employees associated with airlines and
airports I frequented made the journey a pleasant adventure. And thanks to the
kindness and quick action of several strangers on the flights home, I survived
a nosebleed of “Oh-my-goodness-the-dam-just-broke” proportions.
Friday night Helen
and Steve, friends of my brother and sister-in-law welcomed us into their Lynchburg
home in the filled-to-capacity university town so that we were not faced with
hours travel on the two days of ceremonies.
Brother Mike,
sister-in-law Sonya, and their offspring Amanda, Becky and Matthew had given much
thought to my safety, energy levels and ability to cope in new environments and
were always ready to help when I needed it.
Each of these
individuals was a blessing and contributed to my experiencing so many joyful
moments. Here are a few of those moments from my camera and from the cameras of
others:
Amanda on the
Jumbotron as her solo soared through the Liberty University coliseum during the
baccalaureate service the evening before graduation
Niece Becky and boyfriend
Josh
With road closures
scheduled for 7 a.m. as part of security for graduation speaker Mitt Romney, we
were on the University campus before 7 and in place in the handicapped section
of the stadium shortly after 7. An early morning temperature of 47 degrees kept
us bundled up almost until the ceremonies started at 10 a.m.
Brother Mike and
sis-in-law Sonya await the start of graduation in the university stadium.
Recognition by name
occurred for Amanda and her fellow music graduates in a brief and emotional
ceremony in the music building where they had spent most of the past four
years. The professors knew their students well and had obviously invested four
years of their professional lives in the young musicians. It was in the
communal area of the music facility where families and friends captured their
shared excitement and happiness in photos and videos.
And I was so happy to
meet Amanda and Becky’s friends I had heard so much about and to be part of
their milestone experience.
Niece Amanda, left, and good
friend Michelle have shared an apartment and their pursuit of a major in music.
Amanda and Michelle pose
with proud sisters and moms. From the left are Michelle’s mom Ginny, sisters Amanda
and Becky, sisters Michelle and Kirsten, and Amanda and Becky's mom Sonya.
Joining the fun are,
from the left, Amanda, Sonya, Matthew and me.
In the photo above I
am seated in a wheelchair that Mike borrowed from a church. I would have had
difficulty navigating the distances between events and the changes in elevation
without it and Mike serving as “pusher.”
An extra blessing was
our being together on Mother’s Day weekend, the first Mother’s Day since our mother
died. There was no time to be sad. For me there was just happiness in the
knowledge of how much joy my mother took in her children, grandchildren, great
grandchildren and loving spouses.
A poignant moment
with niece Rebecca “Becky” Annette, namesake of my late mother Annette.
Congratulations are in order for the new graduate and for you! You both graduated in a sense. You on to a new solo adventure, and you niece onto a new life after college. You both look lovely in the bottom picture. I'm so happy that you were able to have this experience.
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful pictures, and you are looking even more beautiful than ever!!! We were in Lynchburg this weekend, we live very close. We even passed Liberty University!
ReplyDeleteYou have a beautiful family! Congratulations on a successful trip. I am glad all went well, but what's this about a nosebleed???
ReplyDeleteSuch a good looking family you have. Good genes start at the top so be proud.
ReplyDeleteHow cool that she sang a solo at the ceremony.
So glad the trip was good but that nosebleed had to be scary.
so many beautiful family moments and memories documented here. and you proved there are still good people in this world with all the help you had flying solo. congrats to you and to the grad. you have a very beautiful family and so are you. what a smile both of you have in the last shot.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful girl. I am happy to hear you had such a good time. I am getting ready to travel solo next fall to CA to see my son and his family. Believe it or not, this will be my first solo trip or trip period since I had the stoke. You are so brave. Dianne
ReplyDeleteAnother step forward! Good for you! Sounds like you had a good time. Happy for you!
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize that you traveled solo--on an airplane! Wow! How far you've progressed since last May!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a lovely weekend, and I'm so glad you were able to be with your family on your first Mother's Day without your mom.
A huge milestone for you. It's wonderful that you can do these things again and enjoy your special family occasions.
ReplyDeleteYou look so well.
Milestones and memories.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you were able to do the solo trip.
Your niece is lovely and I wish her a wonderful future.
Linda you look beautiful. The photo of you and Becky is a tender lovely moment.
Cheers on your continued recovery.
You are very brave and deserve a graduation medal of some kind for going on your own. Love the pictures of your family......... And congrats to the new graduate.
ReplyDelete