Pomp and Circumstance

After a week-plus of literally sitting on my duff on a beach in Florida, doing little else but reading and staying in the shade as much as possible, then sitting in an airport for several hours prior to a 2-hour flight home last night, I hopped in my car this morning and drove several more hours to almost-Cleveland (my term for all of their 'burbs), to sit on that same duff for 2 1/2 hours on an aluminum football stadium seat to watch my niece/godchild graduate (magna cum laude!) from a well-respected college, and then drove those several hours back home, where I am sitting on my duff (again!), at the computer. Man, is my duff tired!

After reviewing the above, I do not believe any of my teachers would have appreciated what must be the longest sentence I have written to this point in my life.

Be that as it may, this little posting is entitled "Pomp and Circumstance" for a reason.

Graduations everywhere are undoubtedly similar, wherein students don cap and gown, march into the facility. listen to one or more usually overlong and boring speakers, receive their diplomas, hear the alma mater, and march out a newly-minted graduate. At some point during all this pomp and circumstance, one hears the strains of Sir Edward Elgar's "Pomp and Circumstance" being played by a small part of a school band or orchestra. It is one of the more memorable parts of a graduation ceremony, and tends to bring tears to the eyes of many in attendance as they recall a graduation or two of their own.

Each school has their traditions, which play a part in making the commencements unique to that institution. Many of those traditions were on display today during the ceremony, but alas, during all this pomp and circumstance (of which there was much), there was no "Pomp and Circumstance".

No trace of Elgar's wonderful composition was to be heard.

I am beginning to think my niece did not have a proper graduation after all.

Harrumph!