Fish cleaning, psychiatry, short order fry cooks and family pride.

For the past month and a bit Jacquie and I have been racking up the miles travelling from central New York to Columbia Mo and back to Guelph. It’s university graduation season and we are busy attending graduations and celebrating with the family.

One of the cool things about having kids is when they are born it’s a “clean slate” sort of speak. Or in other words the sky is the limit for whatever your child wants to become. A doctor, a teacher, a hockey player, a pilot. They can do or be whatever they want. Being the kind of guy I am who loves food and cooking I’ve always thought it would be kinda cool to have one of my kids grow up and be a short order fry cook or a pit master. I know I’m aiming high here. But hey, you gotta dream. Being a parent is a tough, difficult job at times but one of the true rewards is watching your kids grow and develop into the intelligent, independent adults they become. Watching them find their path. It’s funny how when these milestones come around ( birthdays, graduations, weddings ect) we sometimes don’t take enough time to reflect on their importance or what got us here. So this blog celebrates these milestones. Three graduations in 4 weeks plus a 4th a couple weeks later for my nephew. Brings us to this point.

On May 11th Jacquie and I roll into Morrisville NY for Ciara’s graduation. We are used to this trip but usually it’s a Friday night or Saturday afternoon hockey game we are there for. The campus is busy this morning as university employees, police, students and parents are everywhere. We are jammed into the athletics centre for the ceremony. This graduation has a different feel than the other graduations. Most graduations are formal, stately, slightly stuffy affairs. Not this one. Part sporting event, part concert, with a little formality. There are air horns, posters, cheering and dancing sections, heads on a stick. Haha it’s awesome . After opening ceremonies we are treated to a surprise guest, New York State senator Chuck Schumer ( yes that Chuck Schumer ). Senator Schumer gives a speech on hope and raising the bar for the new graduates going forward with just a hint of politics and a small jab at Donald J. I have to admit I’m impressed. He’s well spoken, articulate and sincere. The graduation goes smoothly and in a short 2 1/2 hours we have a graduate! That night we get together with the graduating hockey players and parents from both the men’s and women’s teams for one last bash and say goodbye to Mo’ville. It’s been fun!!

On to the next graduation. Columbia Mo for my niece Jana’s med school graduation. On a cold weds night we leave Mildmay for Columbia with a stop over in St Louis at my sisters before making the two hour drive out to Columbia. Graduation day comes and we walk the beautiful campus at the university of Missouri and find our seats for the ceremony. There is a beginning, middle and ending speaker. The Dr that is the keynote speaker in the middle position discusses where technology currently is and where modern medicine is taking us . He urges the new Drs to keep the human element in medicine. Excellent speech. Two hours later we are done and outta there. On our way back to celebrate in St. Louis with bbq and beers. Sunday night we decide on more celebrating with Mexican food and margaritas. It’s been a great weekend. On to graduation #3.

Guelph, 9:00 am Thursday morning and we are in the athletics building. Another 2 hour graduation with keynote speakers ect. While slightly stuffy this graduation is very uplifting. The theme is centred on the new grads using their intelligence to help make the world a better place. We hear a talk from a professor about his spyware developed to thwart crooks, rogue nations from interfering in politics, terrorism, fraud ect.( America are you listening?). His software has been used in both the ongoing Russian probe and the Khashoggi investigation. An hour and a half later the graduation is over and we have another fresh grad! Where do you celebrate in Guelph on a Thursday at 11:00 am? Well the works for gourmet burgers of course! Lunch at the works is fantastic as always.

Our 3 grads have all excelled and we know the sky’s the limit. Ciara has graduated magna cum laude ( 3.9 gpa) , Chloe has graduated honours with distinction ( 91%average) and Jana has received the medprep leadership and teaching award. Chloe has been accepted and considering doing a masters in the fall. Ciara is going to take a year off from school, move to Los Angeles for work and return for a masters the following year. Dr Jana Binkley has accepted a position at the university of Nebraska medical centre (funded by non other than Warren Buffett). Where she will be working towards becoming a trauma surgeon.

Now for the male side of the family. My nephew Tanner was a smooth skating defence man with the Listowel Cyclones for several years. His above average hockey iq, ability to dish the puck and good lateral skating ability made him lethal on the power play. Tanner has recently graduated from Algonquin college with a degree in X-ray technology and has accepted a position at the Glacé Bay NS general hospital. On his way to becoming a devoted Cape Breton Golden eagles fan and hopefully forgetting about that blue and white hockey team that plays in Toronto. Tanner will no doubt thrive at his new position.

Very proud of our graduates. I’ve always heard the saying that when it comes to high end professional jobs ect you don’t get paid for what you do but rather what you know. Tanner, maybe while doing xrays or between xrays you could keep your hands busy? Perhaps cleaning fish? Be sure to check the blog late August for “ budges big bbq road trip”. Mildmay to Los Angeles.

Till next time. “ earls dead Cadillac for sale”

Proud parents
Ciara after receiving her diploma
BSC