Junior Dad's

A long-standing tradition at Mary Baldwin College is the awarding of class rings during the junior year of every class. This year, obviously, it was the time of class rings for the class of '09 - which was amusing, to say the least. First of all, you should be reminded that I am in a play right now, portraying a very butch lesbian (who is rather plain in appearance). This play occurred tonight, during the Junior Dad's celebration.

Now, it is tradition for the father of every student to present his daughter with her class ring. We then dance and have a big party at the Stonewall Jackson (yes, you read that right) Hotel. My dad is a sucker for a ceremony, so when the school sent him and my mother an invitation to this shindig, they accepted with alacrity. They chose a class ring for me (I didn't want the traditional ring with all the engravings that I would only wear until I graduated, I wanted one I would wear the rest of my life. So they chose it.) and arrived in Staunton today.

This was a long day for many reasons. Firstly, the Madrigals were singing downtown in costume and I was wearing inadequate shoes for that purpose. (After spending all day outside with insufficient toe insulation, I was quite literally frostbitten. It worried me for a while.) Today was also Gabby's senior recital (for the full run-down on that, see me later) and I had been intending upon watching, but was instead roped into being the backstage hand/stage manager when the original didn't show. (However, this does mean I don't have to write a review of it.) After Gabby's recital, we all headed back downtown for a tree-lighting service, where we sang until we were hoarse.

The play happened with very few hitches tonight (a thrilling occurrence) and after curtain call, I ran backstage, stripping off costume pieces as I fled and leaping into my beautiful red satin dress with the gold cherry-blossom pattern and the Mandarin collar. I fumbled into my shoes, then ran straight to the green room, where Camille (a delightful makeup/hair technician) did this weird thing with a pair of chopsticks that I have never managed to master on my own. However, with a twist of chopsticks and a few bobby pins, within seconds I had a hairstyle. It was surreal. Then a few dabs of makeup, then my friend Belena and I were off to her dorm, to pick up her dress for Junior Dad's.

I felt like a Bond girl, running in my formal and heels to the car and driving at top speed to every location we needed to visit. And, might I add, my hair remained impeccably perfect. (Camille really is a genius.) After Belena slipped quickly into her formal, we dashed to the car, drove to the parking lot nearest the Stonewall Jackson, then sprinted up to the hotel.

I recieved my ring in a short ceremony - and let me tell you, it's a GORGEOUS ring. It's the biggest, gaudiest bit of jewelry I own and I love it. I expected my parents to choose for me something like my sapphire ring, with a respectably-sized stone on a slim band - I love that ring, and the design is very simple and me. But THIS - it's HUGE. It's so big it reaches to my knuckle - a huge garnet surrounded by diamonds, on a sterling silver band. It's very modern and not something I would have necessarily chosen for myself, but as usual, Daddy has surpassed himself in taste when it comes to jewelry. It fits perfectly and it seems like it was just the right choice.

And, of course, it's fantastic to wave my hand around to show off my ring only to hear awed gasps of "My GOD, it's as big as your HAND."

After Junior Dad's, I sclepped up the hill to Jess and Betsey's to enjoy the cast party for "The Vic", which was amusing, to say the least. I enjoyed a glass of wine, good conversation, and had the pleasure of laughing at very happily drunk freshmen. It was a busy day, but a good one.

I would meditate upon the significance of the first ceremony of my ushering out of the undergraduate world, but it's 3am and I need to get up early to eat with my parents. Humbug.