Educated Daughters

And so the weekend went on...Sunday we drove to D2's friend Cath's boyfriend's house, across University Avenue from the Swamp -- UF's football stadium. My dislike of Gator football, now 35 years old, always causes me to give the place a hidden one finger salute... But on Sunday, the day was bright and glorious, and Wifey, the Ds, and I walked in glorious sunlight to the O Dome, for graduation. It was long. It was boring. It was worth every moment, when D2 crossed the stage and smiled -- her beautiful and beaming face magnified on the big screen. The whole event took about 1.5 hours, and we met outside for photos. Ashley and her family were there, along with Catherine and her group. We were all so proud, and so happy. That night, we went to Downtown Gainesville, and had sushi at Dragonfly, the place we've visited many times. D2's boyfriend Jonathan joined us - his family decamped to Miami earlier in the day. We toasted with cocktails, and had the waiter take a family photo. Monday I loaded up most of D2's accumulation of clothing. She would make Imelda Marcos proud. D1 is supposed to be the family clothes horse: she is minor league compared to her younger sister. We shared a family farewell breakfast at a new bagel spot, after the wait at Flying Biscuit was too long. That place, the best breakfast in Gville, has become, as Yoggi Berra said, one that is "too crowded -- no one goes there anymore." Wifey stayed behind and D2 drove her to the airport, while D1 and I hit the highway. We sang along to oldies, and talked of life. D1 passed out near Orlando, and slept through the worst part of the drive -- the 50 miles from Orlando to Yeehaw Junction -- nothing but grass and scrub pines. She awoke in time to see a warning sign on the Turnpike board -- all lanes closed near Ft. Pierce, so we jumped over to I-95 and cruised through Palm Beach and Broward Counties. D1 and I agreed -- we were Miami snobs. We believe the only places worth living in Florida are Miami Dade County, and the Keys. D1 added the Ft. Lauderdale ocean front -- she has a wealthy client who lives in AIA off Sunrise Blvd, and said she could rough it there, too. But other than that -- boring suburbs -- cookie cutter houses -- not for us. Of course, too many others share our feelings, apparently, and we slogged through Palmetto traffic on the way home. Wifey was there, and we had a happy homecoming with the dogs. And then Wifey drove D1 and the spoiled Spaniel to the train, and she went back to Brickell -- work today -- maybe for the Spaniel, too, as Lauren may take her to the ad agency in the Grove... D2 is caravaning with a few fellow grads -- due here this evening -- and then she faces the monumental job of unpacking the flotsam and jetsam of 4 years of college. She's going to work part time at my law firm -- along with Cath and Tara, who just graduated FSU. Cath will head to Emory Law on scholarship in the Fall, and Tara to either FIU or FSU Law -- right now she's on the FSU wait list. D2 has a summer internship at a cruise line, which will hopefully lead to a full time offer next year, after she completes her M.S. degree Heady times, these are -- Wifey and I are smiling at getting our Ds this far. It really is as good as it gets for us...