our last day in Boston

Our last day in Boston was sunny and warm and beautiful and we spent the whole day out in the city, seeing Bunker Hill, the Paul Revere House, and inside Old North Church for the first time, while visiting several others (as the Stay family puts it) "One Last Time!"

Here's what I wrote on facebook about it, "Thank you Boston for giving us one more sun-soaked day. And thanks Bunker Hill, Red Line, Green Line, Orange Line, Paul Revere wearing a Boston Strong Bruins jersey, Mike's Pastry, Boston FD, Old North Church, Haymarket, Greenway, sail boats, and last but never ever least, the Charles River for being so gracious as we said goodbye today." I definitely teared up several times during the day, but mostly I just soaked it up, being grateful for one last beautiful day.

Paul Revere wearing a Boston Bruins jersey

Cannoli and cream puffs from Mike's Pastry

The firemen at the station right next to the Paul Revere Mall were out with the boot collecting donations and letting kids climb in and on the trucks. They gave Anna and Levi suckers.

I was pretending to take a picture of the kids, but really, I wanted a picture of these ladies. They all lived in the neighborhood. They talked to all the locals that passed and gossiped about them after they walked away. They all had perfect Boston accents and it made my day to see them and listen to them. 

graduation pictures

Before Sam turned in his robes, we took a few pictures around MIT.

In front of our apartment at Westgate

On the Tech Shuttle (or "MIT bus" as the kids called it)

The Sloan School where Sam spent a lot of his time, and below, a few real life with kids moments...

In case you can't tell, we're spelling out MIT

The old Sloan building

A view of the LGO office- one we saw often.

Running along Memorial

Finally, in front of the Dome!

graduation

I have been avoiding writing about this. I'm not really sure why since it was so significant to both of us. But, in pursuit of a goal I set, I am biting the bullet and getting it done.

The day of convocation was beautiful and warm, but the day of graduation was cold and rainy. Really rainy. It started drizzling in the early morning and by 9 when graduation started it was a steady rain that lasted until just after graduation ended. Of course.

But I was just so happy and pleased for Sam I didn't mind so much.

Here's Sam walking from the Z-Center along Mass Ave and Memorial to "THE DOME!!!" (as our kids would always shout when we drove by, which was at least three times a week)

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And here's me when we were still dry-ish and enthusiastic

The commencement speaker was the creator of DropBox. I'm sure it's a great tool and he's clearly been very successful, but his speech was poorly written and he gave off an air of entitlement and self-importance. Thankfully, MIT's new president, L. Rafael Reif gave a great speech (watch it here) which redeemed the event for me. 

Sam's diplomas were presented near the end of the morning by which time the ground looked like this:

I think I must have forgotten my camera since all I have are cell phone photos. I tried to get as close as I could when I thought his name would be coming up, and I made sure I was near a screen to see a close up. Here's a very blurry shot of him walking down the ramp with his diploma (on the left). You better believe I cheered and clapped my heart out for him, even though he couldn't hear it.

Sam was polite and stayed until everyone's diplomas had been presented and by the time we were done, everyone and everything was soaked inside and out. We came home and changed and hurried over to the LGO (Leaders of Global Operations- the dual MBA/Masters of Engineering program) reception where everyone seemed as exhausted from two exciting days as we were. I found a quiet corner with the kids and we ate cupcakes while catching up with just a couple of our closest friends. Levi enjoyed himself.

Here's Sam with an LGO cookie inside the stinky LGO lounge. 

The further I get from this experience, the more grateful I am that we had it. Sam worked so hard before and during his schooling to make it successful and we were blessed over and over again with the time and energy and support we needed so we could both accomplish what we needed to get our family through that time. We were blessed with wonderful friends and explored a whole new region of the country while challenging our own ideas about ourselves. I have a feeling we'll always look back on those two years as a formative time for our marriage, our family, and our purpose in life.

Thanks for making it happen Sam. I love you and I'm so proud of you!