Graduation Day

My only child, Estelle, graduated from college last Saturday which also marks my own graduation from saving up for tuition, books and gimmicks induced by her classmates.

The ceremony was long and boring. Ever-present companion Fort and I were thinking of dozing off, but the possibility of snoring was too high. In the end, my daughter (still in her toga) and I huddled in the ladies’ room on how she can escape before the tedious ceremony ended so we can finally have a bite to eat. Arriving at a plan which included stashing her toga in my shoulder bag, mother and child did a parody of Pink Panther sans the soundtrack. Of course, Fort put an end to our adventurous streak by merely pointing out the door. She’s a graduate, Fort reminds mother and child – the school can no longer detain or punish her. Oh okay. Estelle and I left through the door with dignity, chuckling over our aborted escape.

Because I don’t know how to cook and my daughter was famished, we shanghied over to Westin Philippine Plaza to savor their luncheon buffet. It cost me an arm and a leg while doubling the sizes of my arms and legs but hey, how often does one graduate? Estelle and I had fun with cheese, Fort discovered the highest-priced shawarma in his life, and waiters grew tired of watching us stretch lunch time beyond the usual hour.

The rest of the day was a blur. In between watching episodes of The Apprentice and preparing for an expanded graduation dinner (with family and Estelle’s friends), Fort and I missed out on our regular weekly radio program at DWIZ (ever Saturday, 5:30-6:30 pm). Monchette had to pitch in and explain to millions of listeners (ehem!)– a graduation took place, and you know how these things go….

Dinner at Gloria Maris Restaurant, ground floor of Podium was an exercise in gluttony. My nephews, Marc, Carlo and their friend, Dino just came from a Yoshinoya food-eating contest. Marc had 4.5 rice bowls while Dino had 3. Both said they were famished. More additions to the SWS survey on hunger.

People were interested to know what Estelle plans to do with her life. She mentioned pursuing a master’s degree (oh no, more tuition!!!) while proudly announcing that she now works … for me (uh-oh, did I pay her yet?)!! And Estelle does. My only daughter took charge of the Blas F. Ople 80th Commemorative Birthday Job Fair last February 2. She is also now working with Ricci in paving the way for our monthly distribution of Ople Shoes. I like it that she knows my work and appreciates my late hours more. She likes it that she has the leeway to come up with events and publications as long as they uphold her lolo’s standards and beliefs. I am proud to be a mother of a college graduate. Because truly, there are less and less of them each year.

With my late father’s birthday, my own birthday and my only child’s graduation over and done with, this mommy-blogger is back in the blogosphere! YaHoOoOoO!

P.S. My mini-pinscher Picasso ate my birthday cake. Fort was wondering why the cake box seemed to be moving. He opened the lid and there was Caca (her nickname) demolishing the cake with her sweet tooth (fangs?). I wasn’t there to witness the cake-eating incident but learned about it a few hours later. I asked Fort, “Was the cake good?”. He shrugged and said, “Ask Caca.” On hearing her name, our beloved rascal looked up from beneath the bed covers with such innocence, and a bit of icing on her nose. Life is a box of cake – you never know who’d eat it or even who was in it!