Smile Because it Happened

I am now a college graduate!  It is just starting to sink in, now that I am home and have practically finished unpacking. Despite the heat and being directly under the noon sun, I really enjoyed the graduation ceremony. The speakers were interesting, entertaining, and encouraging, and it was honestly pretty exciting to walk across the stage and receive my diploma! I'm sure most of the people reading this have already seen plenty of photos from graduation on other forms of social media (or were there in person). But I love my parents and this picture too much not to share. I definitely could not have completed my four years at Whitman without the help of my parents! 

Thanks for taking this photo, Lori! 

I think Anne has a point when she says, "I'm always sorry when pleasant things end. Something still pleasanter may come after, but you can never be sure" (Anne of Green Gables, Lucy Maud Montgomery). I am sure there will be many more pleasant things in my future, but it sure is hard to see my years at Whitman end. I have been lucky to have such wonderful friends, though. I met Rachel my first day at Whitman on our Food and Hunger S.C.O.R.E (Summer Community OutReach Excursion). I think we both looked at the other and decided we were going to be friends. Every once in a while I think about how different my experience would have been if I hadn't gone on that S.C.O.R.E... I am so glad I did! And if I hadn't been friends with Rachel, I never would have met her lovely section-mates, Marisa, Elizabeth, and Fabiola. And although Elizabeth transferred after sophomore year, she was still a huge part of my Whitman experience! Thank you all! 

Rachel, myself, and Marisa (PC: Lori)

Although I don't know all the pleasant things my future holds, I know it will involve two cats and plenty of homemade ice cream! 

Rhubarb Sorbet made with new KitchenAid ice cream attachment!

Their first photo together! 

17 Years of Education Completed

Yesterday I finished my last final at Whitman, and with that I completed 17 straight years of education. I can't say that I really feel it quite yet, but it is a strange realization that I am done with school, at least for now. 

There have been many bucket list activities being checked off in the last couple weeks. We went to breakfast at the Maple Counter to use our Maple Bucks, Marisa went to the wheat fields for the first time, and Rachel and Marisa went in the fountain today. We had a tea tasting party to try all of the teas Rachel acquired in China and we had lunch at Aloha Sushi (which took a very long time...). We also did some things that weren't on the bucket list, like watch my favorite animated movie, Brother Bear, while eating chocolate fondue! We've tried a couple new recipes, like vegetable tamales and this strawberry risotto: 

And we've found time for walks through the neighborhoods around Whitman. It has been a very productive and eventful last couple of weeks! 

On Saturday, Rachel and I went to Walla Walla's 18th annual Ducky Derby. Every year we have seen the large inflated duck on top of Baker Boyer Bank in downtown Walla Walla, and knew they did a derby (floating little rubber ducks down Mill Creek) but we had never seen it! This year we saw the vendor at the farmer's market, and thought we would ask about it. He gave us the details, and the funds go to a great cause, so we each bought a few ducks! As we waited the two weeks, we talked about how excited we were to see them dump 10,000 ducks out of a dump truck into Mill Creek (this is what was described to us). Can you imagine? How cute would that be?? This all happens at Walla Walla Community College, so last Saturday Rachel and I borrowed a friend's car to see the spectacle. We were told there would be free popcorn and water, so that's always a nice treat, and there was always the possibility of winning one of the 17 prizes (a new car, anyone?), but of course we were both the most excited to see the ducks floating down the creek! However, shortly after we arrived, we learned that because of the low water levels this spring, they would not be floating the ducks down the creek, instead they dumped all the ducks on the lawn, and an off-duty fireman stood in the pile, fishing out ducks. It was so disappointing. 

We were not the only individuals blindsided by this turn of events. There were many disappointed faces in the audience. On top of all that, the free water was salty! Perhaps to make up for running out of popcorn...

Oh well. Although we were very disappointed, it was a nice day to be out, and we got a nice picture with these ducks. 

I would say it's been a good last couple weeks at Whitman! 

In a couple days our families will be here, and we will be getting ready to graduate. I am so glad to have had these two through it all! 

History Is Made

Since my first year at Whitman I have wanted to roll a bowling ball down the ramp by the stairs in Cordiner Hall. I can't explain this desire. A couple weeks ago I acquired the bowling ball (from Goodwill) and tonight history was made! It was every bit as exciting as I anticipated! Mind you, this is probably the most rebellious thing I have ever done. I would guess rolling bowling balls down ramps is not the most common reason to sneak into buildings at night. But then again, there's really no sense in being 'common.'