Back from Michigan

Visiting Michigan was, I admit, fun while it lasted.  I had been a bit nervous about the visit only because I didn’t know what the family dynamic was going to be.  Was I going to be treated like same old WordNerd, baker extraordinaire who needs to do the dishes now?  Or was I just a plain old visitor that they needed to cherish for the few days she was there?  A little from Column A, a little from Column B–I was asked to do plenty of things, but at least no one asked me to clean the bathroom.  That would’ve been uncalled for.

I must say, though, it was nice seeing everyone.  All of them are just as goofy as always, with their quirks and snark and droll personalities.  It was a typical weekend at my parents’ house, what with the eating at Big Boy’s and poking fun at each other and staying within the confines of the house for the most part.  Except that trip to Target, because the Target at Wheaton sucks.  Period.  They have no clothes.  Ann Arbor’s older Target does.

The graduation ceremony at Michigan Stadium was pretty low-key for the most, and not as time-consuming as it could’ve been.  The only thing that took a really long time was when the graduates filed into the stadium.  People kept stopping and pointing at the audience, trying to spot mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, friends.  All I could think was, “Could you move the fuck faster?”  Oh, I’d kick them over if they stood in front of me on the left side of an escalator.   Christiane Amanpour of CNN was an excellent choice for a commencement speaker–I know a lot of the graduating seniors whined about how Michigan never got anyone good, but I thought it was an impressive choice when I first head.  Her speech touched on Iraq, Iran, and becoming a citizen of the world.  I wasn’t impressed with my own speaker–Elmore Leonard–but at least I got to see Lee Bollinger and shake his hand.  Leeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Anyway, overall, good experience, but I don’t think I’ll ever step into Michigan Stadium again (unless my little sister wants to attend Spring Commencement if she goes to the School of Ed for her master’s).

The visit was fun.  It was good to see my family, and my mom was kind enough to make me capirotada.  Yum.  The next projected date is sometime in the summer, with IP accompanying me so that little brother M can worship him and my mom can feed him like crazy.  Oh, and sangria.  Don’t forget sangria.