Dad's Graduation
Jun. 16th, 2003 12:28 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lanalucyLast week, my dad graduated from college for the first time, Summa Cum Laude (gpa 3.97), at the ripe old age of 61. Anyone who can explain to me the difference between Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and With Distinction, please do so, cause I don't remember.
I wasn't sure at first that my being there really mattered, but I decided to go, despite the 7 hours of driving time in one 24 hour period, not to mention the whole not getting paid thing.
The ceremony was held on Tinker AFB outside of OKC, with 200-300 people in the room, including the new graduates. Since Tinker has an apparently enormous distance learning population, there were a number of schools represented, each with its own person to confer degrees or hand out diplomas or both.
My first impression was driving into Tinker, seeing the 15 foot fence, hearing the activity from the flight line, going through the ID check at the gate. To this AF brat, it felt familiar and welcoming, safe. I overheard my sister and stepmother discussing the very same thing, except that they were commenting on how "civilianized" they've become, because it all looked so strange and surreal. Maybe it's because I was born into the Air Force, and was 24 before I stopped being considered a dependent, but I love the whole atmosphere. I told my dad that Kid was deprived, having never lived on a flight line. He laughed and agreed with me.
Next, I was overwhelmed by the number of service people, in uniform, gathered in the room. It's been twenty years since I saw so many blue uniforms in one place, and I doubt I've ever seen so many men in BDU's at once. After I got over being overwhelmed, I was delighted. At the risk of being sexist, there is something special about a man in uniform, no matter his age or appearance, that automatically makes him more attractive to me. My blood pressure went up just sitting in the same room.
Only one group of graduates, my father's group, were in gowns and caps. The first group, from the Community College of the Air Force, were naturally all in uniform. The rest were dressed according to their status. Active duty personnel were in uniform (with one odd exception, a Captain), and Civil Servants were in a variety of dress. My father's school's graduates included a woman from the Beauty Shop on base. Go girl! One older woman is apparently a pretty popular person, because there was a huge Hoo-Rah! from the room as she walked the stage.
My dad had paid for a family photo, so afterwards we had to fight the crowds to get back INTO the room to do that. Then we snuck out the back door and headed for food! Kid was the only one with suggestions, which were all vetoed by someone, and my dad finally decided on a steak place. The service was adequate, the food was wonderful and the company was superb.
After we got back to the house, like any other self-respecting kid, I did laundry.
I wasn't sure at first that my being there really mattered, but I decided to go, despite the 7 hours of driving time in one 24 hour period, not to mention the whole not getting paid thing.
The ceremony was held on Tinker AFB outside of OKC, with 200-300 people in the room, including the new graduates. Since Tinker has an apparently enormous distance learning population, there were a number of schools represented, each with its own person to confer degrees or hand out diplomas or both.
My first impression was driving into Tinker, seeing the 15 foot fence, hearing the activity from the flight line, going through the ID check at the gate. To this AF brat, it felt familiar and welcoming, safe. I overheard my sister and stepmother discussing the very same thing, except that they were commenting on how "civilianized" they've become, because it all looked so strange and surreal. Maybe it's because I was born into the Air Force, and was 24 before I stopped being considered a dependent, but I love the whole atmosphere. I told my dad that Kid was deprived, having never lived on a flight line. He laughed and agreed with me.
Next, I was overwhelmed by the number of service people, in uniform, gathered in the room. It's been twenty years since I saw so many blue uniforms in one place, and I doubt I've ever seen so many men in BDU's at once. After I got over being overwhelmed, I was delighted. At the risk of being sexist, there is something special about a man in uniform, no matter his age or appearance, that automatically makes him more attractive to me. My blood pressure went up just sitting in the same room.
Only one group of graduates, my father's group, were in gowns and caps. The first group, from the Community College of the Air Force, were naturally all in uniform. The rest were dressed according to their status. Active duty personnel were in uniform (with one odd exception, a Captain), and Civil Servants were in a variety of dress. My father's school's graduates included a woman from the Beauty Shop on base. Go girl! One older woman is apparently a pretty popular person, because there was a huge Hoo-Rah! from the room as she walked the stage.
My dad had paid for a family photo, so afterwards we had to fight the crowds to get back INTO the room to do that. Then we snuck out the back door and headed for food! Kid was the only one with suggestions, which were all vetoed by someone, and my dad finally decided on a steak place. The service was adequate, the food was wonderful and the company was superb.
After we got back to the house, like any other self-respecting kid, I did laundry.
