May 29, 2008

Graduation Season (or, Needs More Air Horn)

My brother graduated from law school this weekend.  That’s right, my brother, who’s 2.5 years younger than me, started and finished his advanced degree in the time I’ve been here at MIT.  But that’s okay, I’m not jealous.  No, I mean it.  I’m happy for him.  Really.

Anyway, the whole family gathered in scenic Newark, NJ for the weekend.  I drove down from Boston, and knew I was almost there when the drivers started getting aggressive and rude (welcome to NY).   Two hours later I’d arrived in Newark, where the drivers are aggressive and rude and completely unpredictable.  Only one other time in my life have I ever been so terrified on the road: in Manhattan right before the shows start on a Friday night.  I still have nightmares.

After we all arrived in Newark in one piece (barely), my little brother introduced us to his girlfriend.  My family does not do introductions well.  In fact, the poor girl arrived and my brother slammed the door in her face and walked off while she was still taking off her shoes in the hallway.  Leaving her alone and defenseless when she finally came in to meet us.  She entered.  We stared.  She said hi.  We said hi.  We continued staring.  That’s pretty much how we work.  It scares some people, but she seemed to handle it well - successfully passing test #1.

Graduation was the following day.  We met up with my other brother and his fiancee: the older responsible children who remember to do things like bring a camera and buy a graduation gift (suck ups!).  I want to make this clear:  I am now the only sibling still in school AND the sibling least likely to give my parents grandchildren.  My parents would never admit such a thing, but degrees from MIT are not nearly as cute as grandchildren.  But it’s okay, I’m not jealous.  No, I mean it.  I’m happy for my brothers and their significant others.  Really.

Three hundred people graduated and the ceremony lasted 2 hours and 40 minutes.  That’s nearly 3/4 of the amount of time it takes MIT to call out 4000 names - score one for MIT, we engineers understand what it takes to have an efficient ceremony.  Lawyers, on the other hand, sure do like to hear themselves talk.  My favorite part was when the student president of the Bar Association, who was supposed to just introduce the next speaker, decided to give us a 15-20 minute lecture on not being arrogant.  He used a lot of SAT words and a lot of cliches and still managed not to say anything of substance.  My second favorite part of the ceremony was the family that brought the air horn.  The ceremony could’ve used more air horn.

All kidding aside, I’m very proud of my brother and I’m glad the whole family was able to celebrate with him this weekend.  I’m also very glad that he’s the only lawyer in the family.

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