Tricia's Roman Holiday: Oops! I've been a bad mommy

It has been a crazy summer, starting with Billy's graduation, two parties, two moves (Billy in, Catherine out), New Jersey, Europe, and the Nestle project. I thought I had posted this blog and when I went to look for it, it was not there. So here it is!

Above is a picture of the commendation Billy received from the Fulbright College; this is not the diploma which actually reads William Reed Quinn. Sadly, both are based on the first seven semesters and doesn't include the final semester where Billy earned a 4.0. In fact, the UA routinely ignores the final semester, even when printing the actual diploma which isn't mailed until six weeks after graduation! If his last semester had been considered, Billy would have graduated Magna cum Laude since he earned higher than a 3.80. Oh, well. The Honors Convocation where Billy received the above award and medal occurred the afternoon before the Fulbright College Commencement. In addition to writing an Honors Thesis entitled The Individual Action and Spirituality of the Questing Knight in The Waste Land, Billy graduated as a Four Year Scholar meaning that he took Honors Section classes whenever possible. Billy majored in English and had a minor in Classical Studies.

The picture below was taken on graduation morning.

Fulbright College is the largest college on campus, so its commencement is held in Bud Walton Area. The incoming graduates are televised on the large screen overhead.

Because Bill is a faculty member, he is allowed the privilege of giving Billy his diploma. Here are the two of them on the big screen...take my word on it!

Here is a picture of the three of us afterward. Catherine had to work that afternoon and wasn't allowed time off from work.

Here are Billy and Sarah. Sarah is wearing Bill's garb because she was cold.

Here she is looking like Hermione!

Here we are at the family party afterward. That's Sarah's mom between Catherine and Sarah. It was soooooo chilly that day (and evening).

Here's the entire group. We were joined by Sarah's sisters, Kimberly, Ashton, and Lizzie, her mom, Barbara, her stepdad, Benny, and Rhonda and Chuck Adams who were not able to attend the big party we had planned for Billy.

As with Catherine's party, Bill set up the big tent in the yard. Billy really likes Middle Eastern food, so that's what I served. We ordered the gyros meat from one of the restaurants in town which made everything taste really authentic and made my job as cook extremely easy. All of the salads could be made ahead of time.

This is the craziest thing I made. It was a radish and orange salad which was surprisingly good and very pretty, too.

Here is the youngest attendee at the party, Elizabeth Maxwell Burris. Her daddy, Sidney, was one of Billy's professors.

And here is a spry Leighton Rudolph at the other end of the age spectrum. He was one of the professors who hired Bill in 1979. We spend Thanksgiving with him and his family whenever we're in the country.

Here is Bill with two of his colleagues, Susan Marren on the left and Dot Stevens on the right. Susan was Billy's thesis director.

Here's a group picture. Seated with the suspenders is Joe Candido, Billy's confirmation sponsor and chairman of the English Department. Both he and Bill were hired in 1979.