A Weekend to Celebrate

Mother Nature played a little trick on Friday, May 7, by dumping some snow on us.  It was mostly gone by 1:00 p.m. when we left Bismarck, driving Grandma's van, sans seats in the back, for Grand Forks.  Meredith was graduating on Saturday and we planned to bring back some of her "stuff" in the van on Sunday.  To add some excitement to the occasion, Reed and Mollie arranged to come to Grand Forks for the weekend, our first chance to meet Mollie in person.  We arranged to pick up Reed and Mollie at the airport following the law school banquet on Friday night.  Meredith did not know her brother was coming to town and I concocted a story about how I hoped Meredith could join us at our motel to surprise Mom with Mother's Day presents.  Meredith dutifully came over but we were delayed getting back from the airport due to a late flight and a parking lot exit system invented by the Marquis de Sade. ["Your credit card cannot be accepted because you did not use it when you entered the lot."  Never mind that when I entered the lot, I intended to be there for less than 30 minutes, which is free.  After jumping a curb and nearly breaking off the mechanical gendarme's arm, we escaped.  Yes, we paid for the pleasure of using the parking lot.]  Mere was truly surprised and delighted to see Reed for the first time since his deployment in Afghanistan and to meet Mollie.

Pam and Mollie have exchanged emails on a daily basis while Reed was deployed so they were immediately comfortable with one another.  It took me a while longer, about 30 seconds.  Pam and Meredith prepared a book of photos taken of Reed over the years, with captions explaining events where necessary, and gave it to Mollie.

The "kids" reviewing photos of Reed's youth.

We did celebrate Mother's Day a bit early after all.  Pam checks out a lemonade dispenser and some turquoise-colored jewelry.

Reed and Mollie in the Student Union at UND

On to the graduation ceremony.