Just to report back .... graduation was this evening. I gave her the lei this afternoon, and she was thrilled, but her mother reports that it was The Coolest Thing Ever among her classmates. There were some other Asian kids with leis (didn't say if fake or real), but only one money lei. I futzed around with technique and styles a bit, which left me running to the craft stores for the right ribbons, etc. But it all came together pretty easily, and it was a hit!

Here's what Virginia Senator Tim Kaine has proposed. Think about it for your state. WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine launched the “Everybody’s the Graduation Speaker” video contest. With many in-person graduations likely to be postponed or canceled due to the coronavirus, Kaine is encouraging Virginia’s graduating high school seniors to submit a video of an original speech they would like to give at graduation. Kaine will select speeches to feature on his Facebook page and website during May and June to celebrate the graduates. “One of the many groups of Virginians I’ve been thinking about during this challenging time is the graduates of the Class of 2020, many of whom won’t have the graduation experience they’ve been planning for a long time. I feel a sense of loss about that, so I want to do something fun for them and give all high school seniors the chance to be a graduation speaker. I look forward to hearing the wisdom Virginia’s future leaders have to offer and sharing their inspiration with others. Let’s show Virginia what the Class of 2020 is all about,” Kaine said. Kaine is encouraging students to film videos of speeches that are 10 minutes or less and submit them to gradspeech@kaine.senate.gov by May 15.

Yes! My answer will be long because both are very special in my heart. My parents gave me a Kenmore sewing machine for my college graduation. My mother had taught me to sew so we all well knew the sentimentally behind the gift. It has generated lots of joy through making clothes, craft items, and quilts. In 2019 it began having problems and I purchased a dual purpose machine. But just recently I have decided to have it repaired/tuned because it’s always been a great machine and I can jump on it to do basic sewing and piecing if the newer machine is set up for embroidery. The other gift is this Royal Doulton figurine my sister gave me for my high school graduation. We would go to the mall together and I would stand and just stare at these ladies in the display window. I was absolutely gobsmacked when I opened it. They were expensive! She offered to buy me another - that I could choose myself! - for my college graduation. I never did. Partly because they were even more expensive. But probably mostly because of the enormity of the decision for which one. To this day it is always centered and featured in my hutch. After rereading my words I’ve realized that the greater value of these gifts is the meaning and love they symbolize. My parents were wonderful people and there is no better big sister than mine. Today is my father’s birthday, he passed away two years ago ( my mother five years). My sister is driving 7 hours south to visit. While I’ve been able to go to her state during the pandemic she has not been here since early 2020. So forgive me being sentimental today.

I thought when things become golden that is taken as a sign that preparation has been completed. But anyway I'm too busy having trouble getting out of my own chair to notice your difficulties with same.