Shock and Awe

So, I've got about 3 hours to go before the start of graduation.

"It just seems like such a silly thing to be anxious about." I clearly agreed with my friend's assessment of our apparently shared insomnia. Benadryl, which normally takes me out until well into the morning was hardly sufficient to carry me to 6am. Am I anxious about graduation?

Apparently. But so far so good.

Today was the Luncheon for graduating medical and graduate student from Baylor COM. There were these insane looking 8 feet tall puppet-like contraptions that one normally sees at a Caribbean or Latin American Carnival. Very incongruous with the normally staid administration; well except for that whole Baylor/Methodist split of course. What they were doing in a ballroom of future physicians and researchers (and their equally delighted family and friends) is beyond me. One particularly delightful mother of one of my friends confided, "I'm not sure why they are here either, but I'll just take a picture."

I'm sure her sentiments were shared by many others.

So with these sorts of quasi-bureaucratic functions also to be shared were speeches and awards. Thankfully, the speeches were brief. The faculty receiving teaching awards were also well received (certainly well deserved). Then there were the awards of the Alumni Affairs Office.

So there was the requisite award to Stacey given her tireless, den-mother-like efforts at keeping our class together and organized these last three years. I believe her husband at one point suggested that we solve our nation's energy crunch with her seemingly inexhaustible supply. This was followed by another plaque to another student who I haven't talked to much, but who is apparently in very nicely with the Alumni Office.

Then there was the Alumni Student Award of Recognition. This award was given based on a write in ballot amongst students for a fellow classmate who is apparently in very nicely with other students. I was still finishing a rather adroit exchange with Ribka and then, "This award goes to Cecil Ray Web...Web..ber, Jr."

(add blank stare and a curious look of disbelief here)

I was clearly shocked. First, the mispronunciation of Webster kinda took me back, but with the realization that there are no other students named Cecil Jr. at Baylor, I figured it was me. So, I stood up more than a bit stunned and less than gracefully made my way to the stage to receive my fancy new plaque. The flashes from well-wishers didn't help my disorientation, but I'm very grateful.

Once again, Mrs. Brown was right about the "Bright student. Social butterfly" thing. I clearly never thought I'd collect certificates or awards for my time at Baylor. The excellence in psychiatry award was enough to last me well into residency. In any case, thanks to whomever keeps keeping me in mind.

Well, 3 hours to go and I've still got to iron my robe.