Todays Helping of Chicken Soup for the Soul

[Guest guest]

Here with Me

By Gail C. Bracy

Last weekend marked one of the nicest days so far this spring.

It was warm with a tiny breeze; the sun penetrated through lightweight

sweaters to warm the skin; the male choir was warming up, and the graduates

were

milling around the lawn behind the throng of six-thousand-plus observers.

With all of the parents, sisters, brothers, grandparents, aunts and

uncles,

the state university was a hub of activity. My nephew was going to receive

his

bachelor's degree. Who would have guessed that four years would go by so

quickly?

As the crowd of freshly polished and scrubbed candidates wandered,

joked,

hugged and chattered behind the bleachers, I heard several cell phones ring.

There were several nonsensical conversations going on with the accompanying

giggles of the not-quite-mature students, but then one conversation in

particular caught my attention:

" Yes, Grandma, I'm really graduating. I can't believe it, either! I

never

thought I'd be here today, you know? Really! Like, I know it! Yup, it's a

very special day. . . . Oh, what did the doctor say? He did? I know, Gran

.. .

.. I know you wanted to come. . . . It's okay. . . . No, really, please

don't

cry. . . . It's a very happy day, you know?

" Hold on, we're lining up . . . okay, all set . . . yup, the center

aisle .

.. . the grass is awesome! Smells really good, too . . . Oh wow, they've

got

like a zillion balloons they're going to release! Yes, 's here. . . .

Okay, I'll give her your love . . . here we go! Gran, I'm graduating!

" Love you, too, Gran. I'm so glad you could be here with me! "

And somehow, my initial surprise and disdain at the use of cell phones

during such a serious occasion left me. For these little representatives of

modern technology had joined a young woman and her doting Gran to share a

very

special moment in time.