I recently returned from a visit to Maine to visit and celebrate with family. The weekend’s celebrations centered around my niece and her graduation from high school. It’s hard for me to wrap my head around this, but her high school graduation comes thirty years after my own.
The celebration began with a party at a hibachi restaurant on Saturday, and I got to see a lot of my relatives who also live up in Maine, and who I don’t get to see that often. So, that was nice, and the food was good too!
Sunday was the ceremony. It was supposed to be an outdoor event, but the weather had other plans. It was raining pretty steadily on Sunday morning, so the ceremony was relocated to the school gym, which was definitely better than trying to stay dry (and warm) outdoors. Not long after the graduation ceremony the rain stopped and the sun came out, which was probably the first time we saw the sun all weekend.
It was a pretty cool and overcast weekend. Well, at least for those of us who are used to things a little further to the south. My parents have become pretty used to the weather of southern Florida, and while I don’t think of New Jersey as being super warm, even I had to admit the weather (highs in the 60s) was cooler than what I was used to in June. When some of use got together on Friday morning we noticed that the Mainers were in their summer clothes and seemed convinced that it was hot out, while my parents and I were dressed in pants, long sleeves and light jackets because it was most definitely not hot.
Mom took this photo of my sister and I as we browsed a used bookstore on Friday morning, looking like we were dressed for two completely different days:
As it happens my niece was not this year’s only graduate in the family. My nephew (her older brother) graduated a few weeks earlier from Southern Maine Community College. Here are both grads along with their proud parents:
Their house in Maine is a bit of a mini homestead with rows of vegetables growing in the side yard and plenty of chickens and now some ducks roaming about the property. Impressively my brother-in-law Glenn (he’s the tall guy above in the striped shirt) built the house himself. He also runs his own carpentry business. So, if you’re in Maine and looking for a good carpenter, let me know, and I’ll hook you up.
It was a fun weekend all around, and well worth the extremely long drive! Congratulations to the entire class of 2024!
— Alissa
P.S. Speaking of congratulations! A congratulations message has been sent to the winner of my book giveaway. So make sure to check your email!
Weekly Inspiration
What I’m Reading: How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin
What I’m Watching: Deadloch
What I’m Listening to: “School’s Out” by Alice Cooper
Find out more about my books at alissagrosso.com
Find out more about my digital art at alissacarin.com
My apologies for the typos and such this post is almost certainly riddled with.
Creativity and Contentment 
6 responses to “Cause for Celebration”
It was a great weekend! So happy to see you and everyone else! ( we missed Ron) Unfortunately the rain has followed us down to FL! Stay warm and dry! Love Mom
Looking at the forecast I think we will be staying VERY warm here soon!
Wow what a proud moment for both grads and a happy occasion all the way around. Everyone looks happy despite the weird weather patterns that have been going on and the different regions of the US in which your family resides. Such a special time for all. Good photos of everyone
Aw, thanks, Rachel!
Yup, last weekend’s weather up here was interesting. We had to pull over on I-95 between Augusta and Waterville twice Sat. afternoon thanks to hail and heavy rain…Five miles up the road, pavement was dry. Not unusual to see Maine folks wearing shorts and a sweatshirt this time of year. Glad you got to do a double celebration.
Yeah, the Mainers are definitely built of different stuff!