Commencement 2014

 I cannot seem to write ABOVE the 'above' picture. MacFormatProblems I guess....oh well....

So a few pictures from commencement exercises at Colby last Wednesday. I have some on my camera but I havent uploaded them yet. As usual, a super duper classy affair at ColbyCollege. I am proud of the way Winslow does graduation exercises. The kids seem to really buy into the 'pomp' and 'circumstance' of the whole evening, and they carry themselves with integrity. The first picture (above) is NOT just an example of what a man looks like when he changes the skin on his face into cookie dough....it is a picture of a student who graduated about 3 years ago....and this year, I had her sister graduate. Emily and Ali. Emily is one of my faves of all time, and one of the awesome things about going to commencement each year is reconnecting with old students. Emily captioned this photo on FB by writing (and excuse my language) "The only teacher who ever made me give a shit about his class, and forever one of my favorite humans." Very humbling and very touching....

And then our very own little Ms. Siena graduated, so we needed to do our #StagePresencePose out in the parking lot after graduation. Very proud of a wonderful young lady!

For the tenth year in a row, I performed an original piece of work the class 'commissioned,' if you will me to write. Sitting up on the stage near my keyboard is an added perk, as I get a bird's eye view of kids receiving their diplomas, etc. The man on the left with the striped tie is our supt. Mr Haley, and to the right of me is our asst. supt Mr Thibotout. Mr Thibotout is looking pretty good, considering how just about a month ago or so he was in the intensive care unit after falling off a ladder while pruning a tree.....

Getting ready to perform my song entitled "What will they be?" which is a piece I wrote 'making fun' (as I often, lovingly do) of the kids and how their 'idiosynchrocies' will prepare them for certain 'jobs' now that high school is over...haha

Up on the stage "awkwardly staring," as my jealous friend Zin _ remarks. He is just mad cuz he only gets to go to leftover breakfast award ceremonies and such....lol....Love you zinzin! To the left of me is asst principal Rick, and to the left of Rick is our brand new principal Chad. Both great men and I am happy to work for them.

And what better way to wrap up 'graduation week' than to see Dave Matthews Band up on the Bangor Waterfront!! A fantastic evening with great friends. The concert was a mixture of waiting around...low volumes....long beer lines....and ultrasuperfantastic performance. But the concert was secondary as far as I am concerned--just getting out with Andy and Beth, sharing laughs, having drinks, eating #Casinofood, and getting away from the kids for a while was super duper! During another blog post, I will have to tell the story about how I thought I was going to have to fight these two guys over my LITTLE PRINCE shirt....it is a great story actually....but everything turned out lovingly!