I am anti-social by nature. I've been known to hide under tables at parties. Last week, I attended two graduation parties in three days. I met a lot of new people and saw some people that I hadn't seen in over a decade. (I told you I was anti-social - my visits home are strategic strikes.) By the end of the second party, I busied myself cleaning up my sister's house because I couldn't blab another word of small talk. There was plenty of good food and people were nice. I was even complimented on how young I look - "you look like you could be graduating tomorrow - you look 18". I'll treasure that comment for a long time.

These parties were my first real experience with the kind of sprawling extended family created by divorce and remarriage. There were new spouses, half-siblings, pseudo nieces and nephews, former stepchildren, ex-in-laws. We needed something really geeky like a flowchart to keep track of all of this stuff. On my sister's side, the interactions are genuinely friendly. On my brother's side, there is more tension. However, all parties were cordial and happy on such an important occasion. High school graduation. What a big step.

And if the kids were impressed by the presents (money) they got for a high school graduation, they should see what a Ph.D. gets ya. :)

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