Graduating into Life

Only four wonderful years filled with dedication, hard work, friendship, frustration and sometimes tears, could culminate in a bear-hug like this one.  Between teacher and student, between mentor and grasshopper, and now finally, between friends.  So much growth.  So many changes.  So many memories...
Angel Daughter Number One, my first baby, my sweet pea, my child, and now and forever, my dear friend, graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts with honors, this very morning.  Somewhere in this sea of black caps and gowns is my little girl.  The one who taught me how to be a mother.
It was her day to shine and along with her gorgeous roommates, shine she did!
First on the stage was my Angel Daughter from Oregon who belongs to another lovely family, but for whom I stand in as a surrogate momma when she crosses state lines into California.
And then my girl.  There she was, beaming her wonderful smile as she received her well-deserved, well-earned diploma.
Normally, I scream like a wild banchee when one of my Angel Daughters is being recognized for something, but today, all I could do was watch.  And snap a few blurry-eyed photos.(Not sure if it was the tears or the 5:30 am wake-up that caused that reaction.  You guess.)
And as always, my Angel Family snuggled in tight to celebrate one of our own.
Nothing could have made the day more complete...
Except for these two little angels.  My brother's Angels, who carried my beloved brother's spirit with them into this very special day.  And somehow I know that my Angel Daughter's very special uncle was there with us all today.  Smiling and cheering and absolutely beaming at what his first niece has come to accomplish in her relatively short twenty-one years on this earth.  

Congratulations, baby.  As I watch you become more and more of who you are, you teach me more and more about who I am.  The teacher becomes the student, as the student becomes the teacher.

I love you with all of my heart.  Oh yes, and that commencement speech that never really happened but should have, about always wearing sunscreen... Very, very good advice.