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!