The Start of Something New.

Wow, I haven't been on here in quite some time. Hi family! Well for the most part life has been moving along with out any major surprises or changes. Except for this past week.Mom and Dad officially moved out of the house most of us spent most of our younger years in. A momentous event, and one to be celebrated as Mom and Dad are able to declare their freedom from debt. Congratulations, and Happy Anniversary!
While major events were taking place on the west coast, a major event was taking place on the East coast. On Saturday, Catharine received her Bachelor's degree in Vocal Performance from Westminster Choir College, summa cum laude. Most of you are aware of the challenges Catharine has been faced with in her life, especially the past four years. From day one WCC presented her with academic, performance, and vocal challenges she had never experienced before. Singing in multiple choirs, being a founding member of a musical sorority chapter, carrying up to 18 units a semester, working at Central and Westfield Presbyterian Church's, mandatory performances at all times of day while making the dean's list every semester and maintaining a marriage was an accomplishment that required a lot of missed sleep, tears, dedication, and serious determination. She overcame relentless pressures put on her and her fellow students by a staff and administration which made demands bordering on complete absurdity. And she came out of it at the top of her class. I have seldom felt such pride as I do in her, for this incredible achievement.Wednesday night Cat's Dad, Grandparents, and an Aunt from South Carolina flew in to attend her Senior Recital held on the campus of Princeton Theological Seminary, just down the street from WCC. Again, she overcame a busy schedule, a lack of sleep, and unexpected stresses to give what turned out to be a thoroughly enjoyable recital, and a complete success. There were moments I could have been listening to any of the handful of mezzos out there worth listening to today. It was a great way to finish out the year, and her career at Westminster.
After we took pictures with family (the Roofs) and friends, and finished the night of with dinner at Houlihan's.
The next day she was up early to record with Westminster Choir, have rehearsals for Graduation, and finish the night with her final Concert at Westminster Choir College. Her dad, Bill and I, attended to our great delight. The concert was wonderful, light at times, celebratory, and they truly made music from start to finish.
Afterwards Cat and I went, with some of her good friends, to get a drink before heading home to get sleep for the final big day of the week.

Saturday morning started at 6 am. Cat had to be up to get ready for her last day as an under-grad. Time seemed to move by fast in the morning, as we left in a hurry to meet up with the rest of the family near Princeton. The night before, her Aunt Karen and husband Matt, and her cousin Richard had flown in to see her walk. With everyone together and mounted up we headed for Princeton.Westminster Choir College Graduation is truly a great event. There is a 45 minute concert to start the ceremony, complete arguably the best bell choir in the world, some of the best young organsists in the world, a brass section, and 600 singing artists (the entire student body is required to attend and participate in the ceremony). Listening to pieces like, Copeland's Fanfare for the Common Man, and other great works for Organ, Choir, bells, and brass made this event seem more like a word class concert, until the graduation march started and the students entered. This graduation ceremony is a tradition dating back to the college's first year, and it is a cherished moment for a graduate of WCC to experience. Eventually the graduates were called up one at a time, to receive their diplomas. When it came time for Catharine to be called no amount of swallowing would relieve the lump in my throat. Nothing would prevent the tears from falling as the Dean announced:

"Catharine Layton
Bachelor of Music
in Vocal Performance
Summa cum Laude."

I wasn't the only one who had forgotten to bring a tissue. In fact, no one did. Not that it mattered. It was a great moment.
We all met up after the ceremony just in front of Princeton Chapel, and headed to lunch to celebrate. What a great day. We wish we could have shared it with you all. But here are some more pics from her Graduation.