Celebrating Ruth's Graduation in Arizona, etc.
Ruth showing the "I Love You" sign for her daughter Avienda as she graduates.
"She did it!" That is, Ruth graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering and she did it Summa Cum Laude! My exclamation that, "She did it!" has nothing to do with my confidence in her ability to achieve this or any goal, but she has faced many challenges along the way to this achievement, not the least of which was COVID and a work related injury that side-lined her for one semester. During her last semester she had major surgery on her hip to repair the damage done in the work related accident a full year earlier, and during finals week she had to have an emergency tooth extraction - and that's only some of the highlights of what sometimes must have felt like this accomplishment would never happen. But "She did it!" and she did it Summa Cum Laude, the highest possible honors status in Electrical Engineering. Her special focus is power systems, and after taking an important credentialing test this month she will be earnestly job seeking - the prospects look good for something not too far from the foothill home near Colfax where she enjoys country life with plenty of critters.
I think one of the factors that slowed our youngest daughter's progress towards a degree is her widely multi-talented capabilities - she could pursue a profession in an unlimited number of fields and be successful. She is the young woman who in her lower division studies at the nearby community college took Calculus for "fun," but didn't consider a career in mathematics at the time. Obviously Electrical Engineering requires lots of mathematics. I find it a bit ironic that her two brothers began their college studies in engineering, but quickly changed majors - one to Criminal Justice and the other to Communication and Psychology. Ruth will be the first engineer in our family.
Rob and I traveled to the Phoenix area of Arizona with Ruth and our nine year old daughter Avienda May 8 to 13. We flew from Sacramento just 3 days after Rob and I had returned from Europe - much shorter flights of course than the trans Atlantic ones. We found an Air B and B condominium in Scottsdale, complete with swimming pool and not too far from ASU's Sun Devil's Stadium in Tempe where there would be two graduation ceremonies. The first was on Monday evening when all graduates of ASU were invited to be present for the conferring of degrees and the second was on Thursday evening for the School of Engineering. Ruth considered only attending one, but this was too big an occasion to not mark with all that ASU had to offer. We were very impressed with how well the University feted it's graduates. The ceremonies were definitely long for 9 year old Avi, but she made it through. A complete surprise visit from Ruth's brother Shawn on Monday night during the ceremony helped immensely and then I got wise and provided some surprise distractions for Thursday evening. Before and between ceremonies we found a variety of fun things to do in the Scottsdale/Tempe/Phoenix area. None of us had spent much time in Arizona before, especially not in an urban area. We found this part of Arizona to have much to be desired. Don't worry, the summer heat will keep me away from any notion of moving there on a permanent basis, but after our week there I understand how that area appeals to other retirees - much more than I understand any draw to Florida!
Ruth and Avi as we fly from Sacramento.
The four of us on the shuttle to the rental car.
I had reserved an economy car that the website said would accommodate four persons, but when we went to the counter at the rental car agency the clerk was insistent that the car we'd reserved would be too small for four people and luggage so we fell for the encouragement to upgrade. The car we got wasn't all that big, but we did fine with it for our week in Arizona.
Monday morning Ruth and I ventured out early to hike near the University before the registrar's office would be open. We left Rob and Avi back at the condo where they would enjoy the pool while Ruth and I enjoyed hiking up a small mountain next to Sun Devil's Stadium before heading to the registrar's office.
Looking up the hillside.
On the top.
With the peak behind us.
The walking bridge over the river.
Tempe had signs out welcoming the graduates.
Avi balancing a spoon as part of a challenge in a game we played in the condo.
Monday evening getting ready to go to the first graduation ceremony where degrees would be officially conferred on all 17,000 2022 graduates of Arizona State University.
Ruth waving to us from the field.
We were fortunate on Monday night to sit close enough to see where Ruth was sitting.
Giant screens behind the stage would help us see the details.
Before the ceremony began our son Shawn sent the following text: "Are you there yet? It's streaming online. Where are you sitting?" I assumed from this text that Shawn was at his home in Richmond, California watching the graduation online. I described as best I could where we were sitting, and after several back and forth texts, he then texted "Want some popcorn?" I thought maybe his Girl Scout daughters were selling popcorn and he was trying to drum up business for them, but then I looked up and he was right in front of us offering us a bag of popcorn! Shawn is kind of known for these surprise and cross country visits, but we were totally not expecting this one. What a delight to have him come share this celebration with us. I was in cell phone contact with Ruth, periodically sending texts back and forth, so I asked her to stand up again and wave. As she saw Shawn a look of surprise and amazement appeared on her face. Shawn also helped to entertain Avi who was a wee bit bored sitting in the stands waiting for the ceremony to begin.
Shawn, Avi and me.
The procession of faculty as seen on the big screen.
The School of Engineering banner.
Ruth standing for recognition of honors.
Streamers released after degrees were officially conferred on the graduates.
And fireworks were released.
Arizona State University knew well how to celebrate their graduates!
Shawn and Avi greeting Ruth at the railing.
Avi and Ruth after.
Avi and Ruth again.
Ruth's hat with one of the streamers.
Avi with one of the streamers as a belt.
All 5 of us celebrating Ruth's achievement.
After the ceremony we all headed back to the condo and then Shawn and Ruth went out to celebrate some more before Ruth took Shawn to the airport. We now had two plus days to "play" between Monday night's ceremony and Thursday night's Engineering School ceremony. We made good use of our time and location wandering the historic district of Scottsdale, playing at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, visiting the Scottsdale Xeriscape Garden and the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, hanging out in Tempe and playing in the pool at the Condo.
Rob found some friends to sit with on a Scottsdale street.
Riding the train at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park.
Avi on the Carousel at the Railroad Park.
A statue remembering Bil Keane, the creator of The Family Circus Cartoon Strip.
Keane lived and died in nearby Paradise Valley, Arizona.
Avi was especially captured by the detail in the vast model train displays in a huge building on the grounds.
Ruth and Avi in a display caboose.
Finding the Railroad park was a true serendipity. Ruth and I are both knitters and were interested in finding a yarn shop nearby. When I Googled "yarn shop near me," the closest one was Old Town Needlework & Framing in Scottsdale, so we went to find it. It turned out to be strictly needlepoint canvases and supplies, no yarn. Ruth and I got into a good conversation about needlepoint which it turned out we didn't really know much about. We were very intrigued with the hand painted canvases ready to be stitched that were true works of art in their own right, but we weren't interested in buying anything. I then asked the friendly employee if she knew of any nearby park where we could take 9 year old Avi for a picnic lunch and to play. She told us about the Railroad park not too far away where she used to take her own children who are now young adults. The park was a real treasure with a beautiful playground, train and carousel to ride and free museum - we all enjoyed it.
Ruth and I went back to the needlework shop the next day to thank the employee who'd told us about the park - and to shop. Here is a picture of my newly begun "coin purse." I've done lots of embroidery in the past, but never needlepoint - I find this a quite enjoyable activity.
Saguaro Cactus and a hill behind at the Desert Botanical Garden on the way to "Hole in the Rock."
See the hole at the top of the hill?
A rabbit blending in on my way to get closer to the hole.
Turns our there were two holes!
Looking through the lower hole to the desert landscape below.
Looking out across the dessert from the hill where the "Hole in the Rock" was.
Another view from Papago Park where the "Hole in the Rock" was.
A tunnel under the road for the trail I took to the "Hole in the Rock."
The trail along the Arizona Canal.
An unusual looking cactus along the trail.
Ruth and I were interested in going to the Desert Botanical Garden that was near where we were staying, but it was pretty expensive and we weren't sure Avi would be very interested in it. After some research Ruth found the Scottsdale Xeriscape Garden nearby that was free and featured landscaping using native plants - we all loved it!
A fountain at the Xeriscape Garden.
Avi enjoying one of the trees and walking on a wall.
Beautiful terraced garden.
A red Eucalyptus tree - obviously not quite native.
Some pretty flowers.
Big cactus, little girl.
All of us in front of the cactus, including Loki, the stuffed dog look alike to a recently deceased pet.
Avi taking a picture of a red cactus.
The red cactus.
Avi and an interesting sculpture and pretty flowers.
A close up view.
Ruth also found out about the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix and so we headed there on Wednesday afternoon after visiting the garden. Reviews had said that you could see it all in 2 hours. Ridiculous! We spent 4 or 5 hours there and could have spent days more. Wearing headsets we could hear all the instruments as we entered their display area. Every musical instrument, ancient to modern, from every corner of the globe and every culture was beautifully displayed, as well as hundreds of featured musical artists. While Rob and Ruth looked and listened in depth to many of the displays, Avi and I did a more quick tour. Some how I only managed to get one picture while we were there - guess we'll have to return, which we will definitely do if we're ever in Phoenix again.
I can't remember what this was called.
It was in the room where you could actually play instruments, and it produced various tones depending on the movement of your hand. I don't think any of us managed to play a tune, but we heard one over the headsets in another area featuring electronic music.
Avi and Ruth in Downtown Tempe where we went to find ice cream!
One of the many sculptures in Scottsdale that I saw on one early morning walk.
A Horse fountain in Scottsdale.
Thursday night was the ceremony for the Engineering school when Ruth's name would be called as she walked on stage. We knew we were in for another long night of sitting in the stadium and I was nervous about how we would entertain Avi without another surprise visit from Shawn. While Ruth and Avi picked out supplies at Michaels to decorate Ruth's hat I found things to surprise and hopefully keep Avi busy during the long ceremony. I found stickers, markers, note pad, and other goodies. Avi did have an i-pad with her, but that was good for about an hour, and we were in the stands for well over 3 hours. It turned out the notepad and markers kept her busy for the duration!
The decorated hat - a team effort by Ruth and Avi.
Ruth ready to walk.
The graduates on the field in front of where we were sitting - pretty hard to find Ruth this time.
But there she is - right and down of center - the one with the gold under the mortar board.
The stage is between the lower two screens.
This time the procession was lead by a bagpipe band.
And the faculty marched in with light sabers.
Beginning the program with the wave of a light saber.
Ruth getting her Diploma - well actually just the case!
Here is her diploma that she received in the mail some weeks later.
More streamers and fireworks to conclude the ceremony.
Getting ready to leave on a jet plane.
Avi holding Loki and her newly acquired mother and baby members of the cat family.
She managed to keep track of all three critters.
We returned to Colfax on Friday, May 13, after dropping Avi off at her other grandparents in Sacramento. Saturday Ruth and I headed out to hike to a waterfall near Beale Air Force Base. It was a beautiful day for a hike, with lots of wildflowers and some wildlife.
A Brodiaea
\Blue Dick
California Buckeye
Lots of this at Samuel P Taylor State Park, but we don't get to see it in bloom there.
Canyon Liveforever - I think.
A Larkspur, I think, and pretty yellow flowers in the rocks.
The stream below the water fall.
Looking down on the water fall.
Ruth peering over the edge at the water fall.
Fairy Falls (also called Beale Falls)
Grasslands on our way back from the falls.
A Raven in a pine tree.
A Blue Heron in a field as we drove back to the main highway.
The month of May held medical challenges for all of us. On the way back from Europe I developed UTI symptoms and started on an antibiotic before we left for Arizona. Symptoms cleared up and then returned. By the end of the month I had been treated with 5 antibiotics, including one treatment with an i.v. in the emergency room when the symptoms indicated a kidney infection - fully recovered now, but it was a long and frustrating experience. 3 days after returning from Arizona Ruth started getting virus symptoms and did a COVID home test on Tuesday that was negative. She was so sick with a fever and sore throat that I insisted she go to the doctor, who when she called told her to go to the emergency room where she was diagnosed with COVID and told to "rest and drink lots of fluids." I was taking care of Avi and we were all being careful, most of the time, to wear masks around Ruth. By Saturday Avi had symptoms and on Monday I developed symptoms. I did go to Kaiser to get tested on Monday and on Wednesday got the results that I was positive. Rob's symptoms started on Wednesday. Rob, Avi and I only had mild COVID symptoms that lasted 2 or 3 days, but Ruth was pretty sick for several days. All of us have been vaccinated and I think that helped, but a good deal of May was spent dealing with illness. In the midst of it all Avi and I did get a couple of good outings and we painted her bedroom. I told Ruth I'd keep painting as long as I could stand.
Turtles in the pond in Meadow Vista where Avi and I went one day
- she on a hover board and me walking.
We counted 8 separate geese families at the park of various ages for the babies.
3 of the baby geese.
Avi helping to paint her new indigo colored walls.
Avi picked the color - she was very definite about what she wanted.
Avi working on the unicorn, cat rainbow that she designed.
The completed wall behind her bed.
The dream catcher under the rainbow was a souvenir Avi got in Arizona.
Avi riding her hover board in the Regional Park in Auburn.
I would kill myself I am pretty sure if I were to try riding this!
Words Avi arranged on the refrigerator door after learning of the shooting in Uvalde, Texas.
Flowers and Manzanita near our Colfax property.
A hawk sitting on a stump near where we were sitting outside our motor home on the Colfax property.
Two fat lizards on our property.
The Sierra crest as seen with the telephoto lens on my phone camera.
This view is at the top of the walk I took many of the mornings from our Colfax property.
Do the hot air balloons give a hint to our location?
The first weekend in June Rob and I went to Napa for his annual Board Meeting Retreat with the Conference Claimants Endowment Board of the California Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.
Just a small part of a beautiful succulent garden that I saw on my morning walk in Napa.
Early Saturday morning, May 7, between arriving home from Cyprus and leaving for Arizona, our daughter Erin called to welcome us back to California. During the conversation she said she wanted to get a cat to join her in her Angel Island house. We reminded her that we had two cats we had previously tried to re-home with her. She said she'd love to have Straus and Elsie now that she was settled in her house on Angel Island. Since we'd be leaving them when we went to Arizona we decided to make a hasty trip to the bay area, meet a ferry in Tiburon and deliver the cats that day - and we did it!
Elsie and Straus, not too distressed to be crated for the car and ferry ride.
The Golden Gate Bridge as seen from the ferry.
We got the 1:00 PM ferry to the island, went with Erin from the dock to her house, settled the cats and managed to get the 2:20 ferry back to Tiburon.
We do miss them, but not having them with us gives us more freedom, and they are still in the family.
Their pictures, but now from Angel Island, will continue to close my blog entries.
Very heartwarming stories. Thanks!
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