What a Joyful experience this was, and how many truly Joyful experiences can one have in a lifetime?

But damn, I had to get up early on January 31, very early. At 4 AM! Still, I dragged myself out of bed, showered, etc. and was met by and Uber at 4:30, arriving at the airport by 5 and leaving at 7. (Wake up Fritz, wake up!)

Arrival in Burlington was on time, about 11, as I recall. Whoopee!!! I rented a car and drove to Middlebury College where, I thought, Eloise and family would be. Wrong!!! I called Rob and found out that he was in Burlington. Rats!

The drive to Middlebury on Route 116 had taken me over an hour on a dark, very windy back woods road. It was icy and not safe at all, but I had made it. Now, to find out that they were back in Burlington was bummer, but after talking to Rob agreed to meet him at a restaurant in Burlington, and took Route 7, which was a bit quicker and much safer. I arrived where I thought Rob would be but found out he had moved to Sam’s Pizza. Actually, I was starving by then and so had lunch and then drove to Sam’s (where I got a parking ticket, no less!).

Finally, everyone was there, Rob and Angus, and before long, Erika and Eloise! Yippee!!! I had not seen Erika in a long time, and she looked beautiful, though a bit different. I think it was the glasses she had and the way her hair was done. And Eliose was not the little girl, not at all! She was grown up! How wonderful it was to see everyone and how happy they all looked. Yes, we all ate some pizza and then drove back down to Middlebury.

I had been invited by a close friend of mine from Hotchkiss, Sam Prouty, who was now the Director of Admissions at Middlebury, to spend the night, so I said good by to my family and drove to Sam’s house, not far away but hard to fine. It was dark, snowy, and slippery on the road. But by this time, it was around 6 or 7, and I was tired. It had been a long day, so I went to bed immediately after dinner. I did talk to Sam’s children, who I don’t think ever watched TV, and they were very, very good companions.

Again, I got up pretty early. Rob was planning on getting there early to save seats, but I thought I had better do that, too. The graduation ceremony was in the Middlebury Field Auditorium at 9. I arrived at 8 and was able to save enough seats, 7, I think. But I kept looking for Erika and Rob and at 9 they finally came!! I know, with a lot of people you go just as fast as the slowest person. But we finally were all together and then the ceremony began.

Pictures can only explain what I meant by Joyful, and I have added some photos to this Episode. I hope they capture the moment. It was just WONDERFUL!!!

But after the Ceremony and graduation, there was another event! We all took a bus and drove up into the mountains, about a 45-minute drive, where all the graduates were lined up high on the mountains in a log line where, one by one (more or less) they skied down to the parents and friends waiting below. I will never forget that moment! Eloise drank Champaign right from the bottle with Hugh grin and Erika and Rob hugged each other in a warm embrace. I don’t think I have ever experienced anything quite so Wonderful, so truly Joyful.

We drove back to campus and had some lunch then back to the home Eria and rented for the weekend. We all took a short nap and then soon a host of Eloises’s friends arrived and we made up a platter or two of nibbles so that no one would starve. Rob bought wine so there was plenty to drink. It was a good end to a great day.

Finally, after everyone left, we ate dinner, again food that Rob and Erika prepared. However, I was exhausted and had to wake up, again at 4 AM, and drive to the airport in Burlington to catch a 7 AM plane. So, I left dinner early and drove back to Sam’s and immediately went to sleep.

Sam had gotten up during the night and swept the snow off my car. It was wonderful of him to do that. It was dark and lonely and a long hour plus drive, but I made it in time. I checked in the rental and sat down and waited for the plane, which was, of course, late.

I started by saying what a Joyful weekend this was, and that I would never forget it. I won’t. It was a hard 4 years for Eloise; she had to start in February because of Covid. She was not sure she really wanted to go to Middlebury, nor were Rob and Erika sure it was the best school for her. I was, and I made my feelings known. That was not a wise thing to do. Grandparents don’t know when to shut up. But when all is said and done, I am glad she went there, and I think she is too.

So why was this such a Joyful experience? Good question but easy to answer. How lucky I am to have such a wonderful family, to see it and experience it. Joyful because I felt Joy in my heart, Joy in the expression on the face of Erika and Rob, and Joy on the face of Eloise. Yes, how lucky I am.