But the real event was to happen on a cold rainy day in May when we parked the car
and Jane and Suzanne
and I took the train
and then caught the 1 train north
to the place where we met Ed standing in the rain
and after recording Tom's, the restaurant made famous by Seinfeld
and Jane's injured toes which would suffer from the cold if not from her injury
we headed to the coffee place
and sampled their wares
even while admiring their cup holders
and then we made our way through the rain to seats
with a view of the library
and a view of the umbrellas
and thankfully we had this little towel which kept our seats dry for moments
but umbrellas were to be the theme of the day
and though we didn't need rest rooms, we were happy to know where they were
and even with this view
the bleak conditions requiring continuous umbrella cover
made us feel that were it not a cause for celebration, we would be following these directions
as the umbrellas stood for the entire time
as amusing factoids were shared with us
and we observed security on the roof tops
as people were seated
and graduates processed in an ever unfolding scene (but too slow for the weather conditions)
as we continued to watch
what seemed to be a slow motion reel on continuous looping -- more graduates
and more umbrellas
more graduates
and us
as the graduates marched
photos were taken
and the march continued
as we held umbrellas
they processed
pictures were taken
and the structures held (thankfully there were not heavy winds, so it could have been worse!)
and amid processing
and us under umbrellas
and processing
|
people were seated
including us
and after a few more photos,
the ceremony was about to begin as the principals appeared
|
before mace bearer Gayatri Spivak appeared
leading Nick Dirks
and Lee Bollinger to the stage so that the abbreviated ceremony could begin and the photos could stop.
After the ceremony, we sought the warmth of Sarah and Ed's apartment where Suzanne checked in with Josie and Russ about the gas situation at home (construction being what it is)
and Jane showed off her chilled foot
and injured toes
before the graduate posed in full regalia for all to celebrate
|
and then Sarah and Ed posed
as Sarah posed
with Suzanne
and without
and Suzanne posed
while Sarah grabbed her squeeze ball
and we recorded it for posterity.
After some warmth, we headed back out past the fruit stand
|
to the Mexican restaurant where Sarah and Ed
Jane
Suzanne and I posed
and then chips and salsa were served
as we put down our menus
and watched guacamole being made
|
with this end result
and the first courses
joined our main meals
with some close ups
as the other meals appeared
and hot drinks ended the meal
as I photographed the mural in the men's room
and then the fruits
and flowers
and this elegant sign as we made our way back to the afternoon ceremony which was mercifully indoors.
Once there, the seating for the graduates was in place
and we were comfortable in our seats
waiting for their arrival
and so I copied the program
|
as Jess arrived
and made her way to our group
and then the processing began
|
to the delight of the cameras around us
and the ceremony was ready to begin with speeches
followed by the oath of conduct
and then the path to the awarding of degrees
as Jane stood on the sidelines
though Sarah figured prominently
|
and the final word from Bill Clinton
after which the ceremony ended
and we celebrated the graduate with flowers
and photos with Ed and Jess
and then Ed, Sarah and Jane posed
and this sisterly picture
as we evolved
into space where the professional took this questionable photo of all of us
and then we took our own group photos
|
before observing that the capacity
was greatly exceeded
and so we headed back to the warmth of the apartment and admired the diploma
and caught a bit of rest
before recording the kitchen ornament
and catching the subway with the new signage to our dinner.
At Sol Y Sombra, we made olives
into pits
and then had some butter
and the typical Spanish omelet
with bread
before our various tapas servings came
|
followed by 2 paellas -- one vegetarian
and one fish.
After a complimentary glass of wine
we went to the subway station to go south and saw Sarah and Ed on the northbound side across the tracks
but we were happy to get to the train so that Jane and Suzanne could rest
and make funny faces
and then be happy
as was I
that with rain outside, we were warm and on our way home.
|
and Jane and Suzanne
and I took the train
and then caught the 1 train north
to the place where we met Ed standing in the rain
and after recording Tom's, the restaurant made famous by Seinfeld
and Jane's injured toes which would suffer from the cold if not from her injury
we headed to the coffee place
and sampled their wares
even while admiring their cup holders
and then we made our way through the rain to seats
with a view of the library
and a view of the umbrellas
and thankfully we had this little towel which kept our seats dry for moments
but umbrellas were to be the theme of the day
and though we didn't need rest rooms, we were happy to know where they were
and even with this view
the bleak conditions requiring continuous umbrella cover
made us feel that were it not a cause for celebration, we would be following these directions
as the umbrellas stood for the entire time
as amusing factoids were shared with us
and we observed security on the roof tops
as people were seated
and graduates processed in an ever unfolding scene (but too slow for the weather conditions)
