Ellie is now hotter by two degrees. That was stenciled on a candle her sissy gifted her at dinner after her first commencement celebrating her Masters in Data Science. Degree number one.

Ellie opened all her gifts. This blue box was from her Aunt Laura.

Ellie’s best gift was her 91 year old papa visiting from Austin. Her papa and grandma had to split the proverbial baby to also attend her cousin’s graduation at A&M in College Station. Her papa paid for most of her tuition as well – quite a gift.

Brit, Eric and Margot couldn’t make the ceremony but joined us for dinner. They made Friday’s commencement for Ellie’s B.S. in Quantitative BioSciences and Engineering – degree number two. 2°. Get it?

Of all the excitement, I got the impression Ellie was most happy for us to meet her boyfriend, Austin.

Much was made by the school president of the fact that this was the pandemic class and that many of the students didn’t have a normal high school graduation. Ellie is posing here with the Mines’ mascot, Blaster.

Two days after her final class, Ellie has yet to find a job. So Brittany extended an invite for her to babysit Margot next week. Great timing on the ask, I thought.

Karen and I are hoping to see a bit more of Ellie this summer, assuming she moves back home after her lease expires at the end of the month. With Ellie commencing on her career journey, Karen and I are adapting to having become empty-nesters.