Pomp and circumstance.

My small group graduated today. All but one (who is pursuing a dual degree) walked across the stage where I joined the Dean in hooding them as medical doctors. Them. They graduated.

Yes, definitely.

I've had the fortune of growing close to and being touched by many students in this class, not just my advisees. But the thing is . . . . with my small group . . . . .meeting with them just sort of got hardwired into my life over these past four years in that way that picking your kids up from school or brushing your teeth does. Important, yes. . . .yet so every day that it seems like it will always be that way.

Somebody said this: "The days are long but the years are short."

Ain't that the truth.

Yeah, man. I'm still looking for the words that I want to say about this day. Right now, they are in big cartoon-looking clouds over my head, but not yet in paragraphs. Those clouds include words like "proud" and "moving" and "honored." Then I get choked up and stop there. Because seeing them graduate was a lot. It was a whole lot.

I am happiest because they did it. I am saddest because I will miss seeing them. I am proudest because I was there. And not just there. I was really there.

Okay. Whew.

I'm going to stop here. Will write more when I get the words together. Maybe. For now, I hope pictures are okay.

More people who were there who know how I feel.

Me? I was there. Oh, and if this medical school seems awesome?
That's because it is.

Small Group Alpha - EUSOM Class of 2011 from Kimberly Manning on Vimeo.

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Congratulations, doctors. And welcome. We've been waiting for you.