CTC held it's annual graduation ceremony last Friday morning.

here are my friends and I, sitting up in the front row of the faculty, decked out in all our fuferaw. That's Elke next to me, and then Dave (Lazarus), and then Mark. These are the folks I go to chili cook-offs with. They've all got their masters degrees now (Mark graduates this Friday), but I can remember when they were all taking my classes, just starting to work on finishing their Bachelors Degrees. I'm really proud of all of them.



The leading speaker at the graduation was a former commander of Ft. Hood, who's son was also among the graduates.



When the time came for his son to get his degree, Dad came down and handed it over. Pretty cool. I had the boy in class a few times. He did well.

I found out last week that a few of my old Florence kids were gonna do the walk, getting their Associates Degrees. A brother and sister... I'd had the sister in class first, and then the brother, after his big sister graduated.



I got this shot of the boy, Jeremie Rohr, when he got his degree. I missed the chance to get a shot of his sister. She zipped through there too quickly.



After it was all over, we had someone take this shot. As you can see, I ditched the formal gear as soon as it was all over. We all did. They're all rented. The rental folks just have us toss them in a box and we jet out of there as soon as we can.

After shaking a few hands and wishing folks like Rohr here all the luck in the world, I hit the road for Mom's house. Denise and I met up there (she had to help run the show at the graduation). Then, after a visit, it was back to the house, and back into the sack for a few hours nap. Exhausting, being all edumicated and official, it is. I was pooped.

Anyway, it's always a blast to see the folks I've had in class going through their matriculation. Makes me feel like I'm really doing something good in the world. Who knows?

This Friday, Mark will get his Masters Degree conveyed to him by Texas A&M, Central Texas, but I won't be able to be there. Denise and I are flying to Nashville Thursday afternoon and then driving to Bowling Green, Kentucky to see her youngest daughter Lynn get her Masters Degree from Western Kentucky University. It's gonna be a busy weekend. I hope they've got Nashville dried out by Thursday. I'm just sayin'.

Anyway, I'll have stories to tell and pictures to show you when I get back. Have a great week, and congratulations to all the graduates out there. Get ready folks. You think you're done, but you're not. The journey continues. Onward and upward! Cheers!