Before dawn on this hot and humid morning I headed to the Fort Lauderdale – Hollywood International Airport for my flight to Chicago. I drove my brother’s car and left it near the terminal where he and some others will arrive when they return from Chicago on Sunday. I hope they can find it.
The plane to Chicago had only three empty seats. Our flight was smooth, but bad weather in Chicago delayed our arrival. At least I was able to land during a break in the storms. My nephew’s girlfriend, on a later flight, was diverted to Rockford, Illinois. She did not get to Chicago until the afternoon.
It rained on and off during the morning, with a strong possibility of more rain in the afternoon. The Northwestern University administration decided to proceed with the outdoor graduation ceremony at Ryan Field, the football stadium. I put on my suit and tie and crossed my fingers.
The weather was unseasonably hot and humid. Based on the meteorological forecast, the administration decided to shorten the ceremony from three hours to one merciful hour. That plan worked almost perfectly.
The students looked very nice in their purple gowns.
Our problems began as the students began to march out of the stadium at the end of the ceremony. The audience was asked to wait in the stands until the students and faculty had left the field. However, as the rain started coming down, we bolted for the area under the stands.
Once the students had marched off the field, they also squeezed under the stands, creating a giant mob scene. Our group of a dozen or so became separated. Fortunately we were able to send text messages and find each other.
Due to the deluge, the street between the stadium and the parking lot became a river and the parking lot filled with lakes. My brother and I made it to the car, exited the parking lot, circled the stadium and picked up some of the rest of our group, who had walked out the other side of the stadium.
Eventually our soggy band made it to the Tapas Barcelona restaurant in Evanston for a fine Spanish dinner.
I hope my suit dries out by the time of tomorrow’s Communication graduation ceremony.
A flood and stampede in academentia, the beginning of an odyssey.