Graduation Weekend Recap: Saturday

Saturday morning started off in a frenzy, as I had slept later than I had hoped.  I remember lying in my bed for a minute or two, just thinking about all I had gone through to come this far, and what this day meant to me.  It was Saturday - the day I would walk across that stage and graduate!!!

J and I... Just walking into the grad room backstage!!

BB dropped J and I off in front of the event center, as parking is a major issue when 1,300 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students are graduating!!  I loved being able to walk in with J... He calms my nerves better than anyone!!  (Except for maybe my mama, of course.)

AW, myself, and SL... We had waited 3 long years for this moment!!

Another "sigh of relief" was seeing my friends inside the big, concrete room where the graduates were getting ready and lining up.  Seeing familiar faces within a mass of people is such a comforting feeling.  We helped each other get all our regalia on properly - and those awful graduation caps!!

Soon it was time to walk out into that stadium/auditorium full of people!!  But by now, my nerves had completely dissipated... It was time to relax and get this show on the road!!  I was so thankful that I had smuggled in my phone... The ceremony was so long, and the prayers and speeches preceding and following it seemed even longer!!

Getting bored and snapping a photo while waiting to go up and get our degrees!!

Once the law students began walking across the stage and getting their degrees time sped up so quickly!!  I clapped for everyone that I could before I walked across... It was a truly breathtaking experience... I don't think I took a breath once when walking across that stage!!  My mind raced to all the hours I had spent reading, working legal problems, getting interrogated in class, and studying for finals.  I had worked hard  for this degree - harder than I have ever worked for anything in my life - and finally the symbol of all that hard work would be placed in my hands.  I could not wait.  I had the biggest smile on my face... I was officially Brittany Pillard, J.D.!!!!

Backstage, there is a "step and repeat"... Then you circle back around to your seat in the auditorium.  I had the most elated, fantastic feeling walking back... Like everything was perfect, and nothing could bring me down.  I was done... And I was so very happy!! 

After graduation, I went outside and found my family... It was the first time I saw my aunt, uncle, and cousins since they arrived!!  Seeing all their smiling faces and getting to hug each one of them was like heaven!!!  I have been blessed with such an amazing family... I don't know what I'd do without them!!

The weather was perfect... Sunny, in the 70's, and not a drop of excess humidity.  We chatted with our family and friends outside, then walked over to the hotel where J and my families were staying.  J's family gave me the most beautiful gift and the sweetest note.  They are incredible people!!

J and I headed back to our places to change and freshen up, then it was off to my graduation party!!  AW, AB, and I decided to have our graduation party in a party room at Dave & Buster's.  We figured that it was the perfect place, since we had been studying for the past 3 years, and it was finally time to play!!  It was also a huge treat for all the kids in our families that had been sitting through the long and boring graduation!!

I cannot begin to take credit for all the organizing that was required to pull this party off... My mama did everything, and it looked beautiful as we walked in.  There were flowers and balloons... All in our law school's colors.

Everyone started with appetizers and drinks... We chatted and took a few photos.  I had made a playlist for the party, filled with Frank Sinatra, Michael Bublé, Amy Winehouse, and Adele.  Dave & Buster's handed out play cards to the kids, and off they went - ready to win some games!!  :)  My cousin C quickly became obsessed with the basketball game... He was dragging J and his whole family out to play with him!!

After everyone had milled about a bit, I had D&B's dim the lights and I started the slideshow I made for the party.  Isn't it amazing how photos can bring one another together?!  I am a photo-a-holic.... I take pictures anywhere and everywhere.  But I find that at the end of the day, they are the best way to save memories and bring an emotional tear to someone's eye years later.

Once everyone was dabbing their eyes a bit from the slideshow, it was time for dinner.  D&B's offers a buffet-style meal, but it was absolutely delicious... I was surprised at the quality!!  Of course, I put the girls in charge of sweets, and wow... Did they deliver!!  We had an entire table of frosted cookies and cupcakes of every sort.  No matter how full from dinner someone is, it's usually a sure bet that they can save room for sweets  :)

The D&B's employee organizing the party came out again with more D&B play cards... It was clear that the kids weren't the only ones leaving the party room to play games!!  But who could blame us?!  We had been sitting through ceremonies all weekend... We needed to just relax and feel like kids again.

Trying to figure out how the ninja/fruit-chopping game works!!

 My aunt and uncle won me this adorable doggie... My uncle has an incredible talent for working the claw machine!!  My dogs would not leave the stuffed doggie alone when I got home.  They kept sniffing him and nuzzling him!!

The girls and I exchanged gifts from one another... And laughed the whole time.  It has been an amazing 3 years with these women.  No matter what, we supported one another and got through law school together.  The challenges and hurdles we overcame together created an unbreakable bond that will last through the years.  And it proved that we can make it through just about anything together!! 

AB's fiancé has trademarked this pose as the "Hand on the Hip" pose... He even sings a little song when we do it!!  "Hand on the hip, Hand on the hip... Everybody wants a hand on the hip!!"  :)

Whenever I see photos of us, I always think of Sex and the City... We each have very different, very distinct personalities, but yet somehow we blend and work perfectly together.  There isn't anything I wouldn't do for these girls!!  They have truly become my family over the past few years.  I am going to miss them so much after we go on our own separate paths to careers and families... But I know we will always stay in touch and be there for one another.  

 Us with our new Tiffany pearls!!!

On the way to my party, J gave me the sweetest gift... An Hermès bracelet.  One of the things I love most about J is that he is very private.  He doesn't like to make a big deal or a big fuss in front of others... Everything about our relationship is between he and I.  But I could not help to show you all my bracelet and brag about J a bit!!  He was so worried that I wouldn't like the bracelet... And I have no idea why!!  I think it's absolutely perfect... And something unlike anything I have!!  I adore it... He did such a great job!!

I gave J his gift - an iPad with an engraved message on the back - and I think he loved it!!  I was hoping it could provide another way for us to stay connected while we are apart next year.  A bigger screen and a more portable size will provide lots of FaceTime opportunities!!  And since J is continuing onto his specialization next year, he can use the iPad to read his law books. 

It was so much fun to see people of all ages out and enjoying the games... Getting competitive and laughing.  It was the best graduation party!!  I couldn't have pictured it going any better than it did!!  I am so appreciative of everyone who came out to help me celebrate... And so thankful for being given the opportunity to chat and spend time with all of my loved ones!! 

Gamer Girls... Well, kind of  :)

 A huge CONGRATULATIONS to all of you that graduated this weekend as well!!

Xoxo B.