Congratulations, Liberto!!!

Saturday: So much excitement in one day. I was already pumped up from the graduation ceremony at the Civic Center late this afternoon, watching my "children" walk across the stage in their caps and gowns. When it was over at 6 p.m.,
I dialed Liberto on my cell phone. After dropping me off at the Civic Center, he had gone to his office, just a few blocks away, to catch up with a little work while I attended graduation, and then he was to pick me up so we could go out for dinner downtown to celebrate the end of the school year. It turned out that we had even more to celebrate. While at the office, he'd gotten the happy news that he'd passed the almighty P. E. exam, which he took in April! The P.E. exam is a grueling, 8-hour test which is not for sissies. He doesn't need the P.E. for his job, since he already has the E.I.T., but it's been his dream, in the same way that a teacher might strive for a Ph.D., in addition to a Masters degree. Yes, there are also financial benefits to having the P.E., and a broadening of opportunities, but we are more focused right now on the joy of accomplishing a goal and having a dream fulfilled.

We had a most wonderful dinner at the Saigon on Broughton Street. On the way home, we bought a bottle of champagne. I'm so proud of him! Right now, he's on the phone with the familia, and even from the next room, I can hear Mama on speaker phone screaming with delight in Spanish, as he shouts back happily. (When he and the familia speak, their volume rises noticeably until they appear to be shouting.)

This news is the best Father's Day present he could ever have received, other than his awesome sons, Paul, Derek and Shawn, of course. Tomorrow, we'll go out for breakfast, mall shopping for him, and go to see a movie. After all, I have the time to hang around and have more fun now because SCHOOL IS OVER!! Two thrilling events on the same weekend. I love it. Time to open the bottle of champagne!