Day 43

Day 43

Saturday, May 10, 2014

My ride picked me up 15 minutes early, at 7:15.  Good thing I had gotten up really early (5:30) and was pretty much ready.  The only thing I had to do was go around and let cats out of the back hall.  I had a tote with some water, pop tarts, and a small baggie of donuts (those tiny crumbly messy powdered sugar kind, I had a few in the freezer).  The lady, J, who picked me up had 2 of her 4 kids with her; and in town we also picked up D before going to DSS’s house.  There everyone shifted rides; I rode with TGF and DSS, so had the option of eating my snack/breakfast without worrying about having enough for kids.  They did stop at a grocery store for snacks for all the kids (and anyone else that wanted anything) since it was so early.

We got to Greenville 2 hours early (TGF had been told to arrive early and be prepared for a lot of traffic.  There were 3 separate ceremonies .. but we got there before the first one … hers was 2^nd … was out, so we actually had no traffic issues).  The parking attendant told us that when the first group started leaving, we’d have the option of moving the cars closer to the coliseum.  But, since they provided a handicap shuttle, they let D and I ride and everyone else walked. 

J and D between them made a point of helping me get around.  Once we got inside to our seats, we still had an hour wait.   I sat between DSS and J, though there was a sort of V shaped gap between J and I, where the row of seats “turned a curve”.

The wait was a lot boring.  DSS mostly picked on TGF’s youngest and J’s son, who were in the row in front of him..  TGF’s BFF sat on the other side of DSS.  Beyojng her were TGF’s 2 oldest boys.  On the other side of J wasTGF’s next youngest, and beside him her dad.  J’s daughter sat in front of her.  J spent most of the time either reading from her tablet, taking picures with it, or talking to D.  I really didn’t have much in common with the friends, couldn’t see much of what was going on, so felt a little out of place.  But it wasn’t *awful*, just vaguely sad at times.

The ceremony itself was pretty much routine … and long.  And this was the “short version”!  (TGF had the option of graduating with the entire class of around 3000, or with the college of education, in which each graduate is named as they walk across the stage). 

I’m tempted to say I’m “proud” of TGF.  I’m not sure that’s quite the right word I want to use.  But I am very impressed with her.  I know it’s clear from what I say that I don’t always like her very much.  She’s very self-centered, and at times can be very thoughtless.  But she’s also stubborn .. and that has enabled her to, over a 6 year prriod, get her GED, graduate from a junior college, and then graduate from ECU with a teaching degree.  All  except for the last 4 months of student teaching she was doing while working full time, as well as raising (regardless of how I feel about her “technique”) 3 boys, plus dealing with DSS (his home, his business, his “baggage”) for the last 2 years.

She’s accomplished a lot.

After the ceremony, D and I waited for the shuttle again while the rest walked back to the cars.  When we got all sorted again and left, the traffic still wasn’t bad.  TGF made a quick grocery stop (note: TGF didn’t have any cash, but had food stamps .. that’s why the grocery store instead of fast food stops) for snacks.  I stayed with what I had with me.

We went from Greenville bac to S’field to her mom’s house.  The mom hadn’t gone along (reasons irrelevant), but wanted pictures.  We took a lot .. although some on mine aren’t so good (hard to do when you can’t actually see what’s in the view-finder! LOL!  And the BFF took some, but wasn’t sure how to work my camera). 

Then, when we were about to leave, TGF’s sister called ..  she was at the grocery store (naturally one far away from where we were), she had all 5 kids and no bottles for the babies.  So, we headed over to her … TGF’s dad is a mechanic.  After a long time in the hot parking lot (I did go inside to get a few provisions while I had the chance, but didn’t want to get much since I didn’t know how much longer we’d be out there waiting).

Once the car was temporarily fixed, TGF brought me on home.  She even took a minute to come in and fix that dratted remote!  It was close to 6:00, so a little over a 10 hour day.  I fixed some quick supper, and sat and watched (“watched” with my eyes closed!) some reruns and went to sleep fairly early.

I must have been even more tired than I thought, because I didn’t get up until nearly 7:00 this morning.  I got an email (I think sent last night) from DS that he and the kids were thinking about driving over today for a visit.  He *could* have called! LOL  .. but there’s a very good chance it was very late last night when he sent the message.  I suppose I need to go on and shower and get the day started.  TGF said they’d see me today, but I would be surprised.   She will be spending as much time with her dad as possible before he has to go back north.  Then she’ll be spending time with her kids, and probably with her mom.  And TGF may or may not go visit his mother.  If they come over it won’t be until in the afternoon or evening.  And I don’t expect DS will show up before mid afternoon at the very earliest.  But, I still have to take care of my cats; and start a load of laundry.  And I think I have a few odds and ends to straighten up.

I think I’ll get another cup of coffee and give the house a walk-through before I get in the shower.  Then I can just sit and wait.