Commencement Day, Harvard Law School

My littlest one walked off the platform with a law degree.





I hope she is proud and happy. I know she is modest and gentle.







It was perhaps Boston’s finest day. The skies were blue, with the occasional puffy clouds that drift in, as if to look down on a happy congregation, then out again. The temperatures were perfect, the air was crisp. Breezes caused leaves to rustle on the tall trees above us, but I don’t know that anyone noticed. We were so focused on the stage before us, waiting for that name, our girl’s name.

And finally, there she was, shaking the Dean’s hand.





Done.

Nothing left but to admire the fine print.





...and to pose for numerous photos. Including this one: of the three lawyers.





After the granting of the diplomas, her grandmother retired for a while and we strolled over to Harvard’s Tercentenary Theater, which isn’t a theater at all, but a large courtyard between the Widener Library and the Memorial Church.





We sat on the steps of the library, leaning back to listen to the beautifully delivered words of Former US Supreme Court Justice Souter.






Justice Souter was addressing the entire university community, but I think the young and old lawyers were especially listening. We, who throw around words “it’s constitutional” or “it’s unconstitutional” need these rare times where wise people remind us what meaning there is behind those words and what happens when principles and core values suddenly are threatened.

It was a good way to leave Harvard.

...and to proceed with the eating part of the celebration...

...at Oleana – the place that blends flavors from the eastern Mediterranean – most notably Turkey and creates foods that we have loved during visits on blustery fall and winter days in Cambridge.





On Friday we disperse. But I’m okay with that. My girls are coming back to Madison this summer: the littlest one will be waiting for her Chicago job to begin in January, and the older one will begin her own teaching career at our Law School.

Milestones. This was a big one for all of us.





...but especially, of course, for her.