DadWithAPen.com (aka TheHungryHungryWriter): Graduation day June 4th 2005...

"Farewell the neighing steed, and the shrill trump, The spirit-stirring drum, the ear-piercing fife, The royal banner, and all quality, Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war!". Othello (Act III)

For some, war was college. They fought through the defenses, they flanked exams, and they eventually were victorious.

Okay, I'm not even close to being as literally versed as William Shakespeare, but the whole graduation festivites of a College grad made me stop and think about why there's a march. Why there is pride, pomp, and circumstance.

I mean, graduations are boring. Who listens to those speakers who take their five to thirty minute limit to the max? Do the graduates really care as they stir in their seats under the California sun? Maybe a few... but most are probably thinking - I'm hungry, lets get on with it.

I didn't even attend my own college graduation. Well, I might have had I known it was graduation day. I was stuck in bed watching a riviting episode of 'Saved by the Bell'. But that's another story on its own.

Donna graduated yesterday. It was long. There were so many graduates. Thank goodness I had Bella. She was bored so I took her outside. We were next to a playground and she got to play. Jake was at his baseball game. I'd rather him regret missing Donna's graduation than sit there for nearly three hours complaining about it.

As the time past, I was thinking to myself, what's the big deal? She'll get her diploma and go home. People who know her will cheer and that will be that. And suddenly I had this small panic attack.

Outside waiting with Bella, a quick flash of the past raced through my head. In the past three years she had a newborn in baby Bella. Jake was an infant and demanded much attention and she managed the ups and downs of a daughter on the verge of teenhood. She dealt with me and my own career frustrations as well as leaning new recipes for dinner, spending sleepless nights with a sick kid, sleepless nights stuyding for a test, and dealing with the feelings of being overwhelmed with adult responsibilities. All with major exams looming over her head.

Talk about a war. That's tough shit in my opinion.

I should be there. I should watch her get her diploma and cheer when they call her name. I needed to be there. And I wanted to be there.

So I rushed back to the stands and waited.

And finally, when she stood up, I felt a wave of anticipation. Graduation suddenly meant something. And I regret the day I watched 'Saved by the Bell' instead of celebrating the victory of my own war. The wave of anticipation was filled with pride and joy.

I've been through my share of physical battles. Broken noses, clashes with martial artsits who wanted to rip my head off. Grappling on the ground trying to wait till the last breath is exhausted before tapping out to defeat. They called 'us' Okinawa Te Warriors because we trained like warriors. All for the sake of fun. We loved it. I was proud to be a warrior.

But Donna is the true warrior. I'd rather wage battle against a seasoned martial artists, win or lose, broken and beaten, then to ever go through the toughest of times that Donna went through these past three years. I wouldn't last. I'd give up. I'd tap out before I should... She deserved all the attention, the graduation, the celebration.

When they called her name...

I teared up.

I'm so proud of her. The mom. The wife. The nurse. The warrior.

Congratulations honey!!! I love you!

Here are a few pics from yesterday... one of the best birthday's ever. My wife got her college degree.