Graduation Looms

Who knew that graduation plans had to begin so early? Last night at dinner, I mentioned to my parents that if they wanted a hotel room we needed to jump on that and said I could probably get them in at the Marriott. Mom threw out Carolina Inn, and I looked at her incredulously but said I would check into all of our options. Which I did this morning, by the way. I was on the ball while prepping for collection development stuff.
Um, no. No to Carolina Inn (which is requiring a 3 night minimum stay and has a very long waiting list (according to the Reservations Specialist I spoke to), Sienna doesnt even have a waiting list, and Marriott threw out Crabtree as an option. I actually laughed at that one. And laughed some more when I called my Mom and she said Do they think I want a vacation in Chapel Hill? So it looks like theyre staying with me the night before. Which I think is going to be awesome (in the worst possible way). I told them I was planning on going out, and she said,
What are you going to do about early morning graduation?
Me: Suck it up, like I did last time
Her: Yes, Katherine, but you are much older now.
Dad: (uncontained laughter)
Me: (silence)

I understand that it is true, and that it has been a few years since the last time I attended a UNC graduation. And I doubt that Im going to do what I did last time, because if I remember I thought about death as a viable option during the ceremony in my polyester gown in Kenan Stadium. But I also want to point out that as far as Im concerned, I am in my prime right now. True, if I were in my thirties it would definitely be different (of course I hope Im done with school by the time Im in my thirties), but a little support would be nice, Mom. Of course Im not sure parents can ever support their childrens habits that border on the ridiculous.
Mostly it has me thinking about how fast this time has gone, and how I cant believe Im on the cusp of another degree, and something completely new. Im excited about those aspects of it. Im also hoping that this is something I want to stick with. I think after awhile, you become tired of being a nomad, of changing jobs and homes and places so much. I realized this was the longest I had ever lived in one place with the exception of the farm. Its been kind of nice to not be in the process of packing or un-packing, to know what youre going to see when you walk in the door. There are so many things I love about consistency- like not wondering what happened to my coffee-maker, or why there are packing peanuts spread out around me, or how much I hate packing peanuts because they are so bad for the environment.
But Im starting to wonder where Ill be next year. If Ill stay here, or if Ill head up North, or if Ill try something completely different, if Ill go abroad. The funny thing is, Im happy with any of the above. I dont think Ive ever been at a place where Im letting my life take me along with it, instead of trying too hard to make something out of it. And, while Im sure this will surprise no one, its definitely more fun that way. Graduation Preparation is underway