{"id":3575,"date":"2025-05-24T22:12:10","date_gmt":"2025-05-25T02:12:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/?p=3575"},"modified":"2025-05-24T22:12:10","modified_gmt":"2025-05-25T02:12:10","slug":"jacks-graduation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/?p=3575","title":{"rendered":"JACK&#8217;S GRADUATION"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Jack is now the recipient of a Bachelors in Fine Arts, bestowed by one of the best schools in the country.\u00a0 As his parents we cannot be more proud of him and his accomplishment.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3585\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3585\" style=\"width: 1000px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20250522-MassArt-Graduation-Jack.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3585\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20250522-MassArt-Graduation-Jack.jpg\" alt=\"Jack\" width=\"1000\" height=\"752\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20250522-MassArt-Graduation-Jack.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20250522-MassArt-Graduation-Jack-300x226.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20250522-MassArt-Graduation-Jack-768x578.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20250522-MassArt-Graduation-Jack-500x375.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3585\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">I managed to catch Jack&#8217;s attention for a moment as the graduates milled around prior to the ceremony<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3579\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3579\" style=\"width: 840px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20250522-MassArt-Graduation-Mortar-Boards.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3579 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20250522-MassArt-Graduation-Mortar-Boards-1024x396.jpg\" alt=\"a sea of mortar boards as the wearers watch the ceremony\" width=\"840\" height=\"325\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20250522-MassArt-Graduation-Mortar-Boards-1024x396.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20250522-MassArt-Graduation-Mortar-Boards-300x116.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20250522-MassArt-Graduation-Mortar-Boards-768x297.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20250522-MassArt-Graduation-Mortar-Boards-1536x594.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20250522-MassArt-Graduation-Mortar-Boards-1200x464.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20250522-MassArt-Graduation-Mortar-Boards.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3579\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jack is featured among the sea of mortar boards<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3578\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3578\" style=\"width: 840px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20250522-MassArt-Graduation-Jacks-Mortar-Board.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3578 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20250522-MassArt-Graduation-Jacks-Mortar-Board-901x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Jack's mortar board among a sea of mortar boards\" width=\"840\" height=\"955\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20250522-MassArt-Graduation-Jacks-Mortar-Board-901x1024.jpg 901w, https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20250522-MassArt-Graduation-Jacks-Mortar-Board-264x300.jpg 264w, https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20250522-MassArt-Graduation-Jacks-Mortar-Board-768x872.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20250522-MassArt-Graduation-Jacks-Mortar-Board.jpg 993w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3578\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jack decorated his mortar board quite nicely. I&#8217;m a little surprised how many of his fellow art school students did not.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The ceremony was held at the <a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/CL3MHA5nhJpjQ11J7\">Leader Bank Pavilion<\/a>, a seaside open-air venue that, on any other day in May, would have been a gorgeous site.<\/p>\n<p>This was not a typical day in May, however.<\/p>\n<p>Air temperatures hovered around 45\u00b0 F, winds from right off the ocean gusted over 45 mph, and nearly 2 inches of rain fell over the course of the ceremony.\u00a0 A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.masslive.com\/weather\/2025\/05\/mass-weather-see-rainfall-totals-from-across-bay-state-during-noreaster.html\">rare late-spring nor&#8217;easter was blowing through<\/a>.\u00a0 A permanent tent kept the rain off, but the open sides did little to block the weather otherwise.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3582\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3582\" style=\"width: 900px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20250522-MassArt-Graduation-Rain.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3582\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20250522-MassArt-Graduation-Rain.png\" alt=\"rain outside the tent\" width=\"900\" height=\"675\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20250522-MassArt-Graduation-Rain.png 900w, https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20250522-MassArt-Graduation-Rain-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20250522-MassArt-Graduation-Rain-768x576.png 768w, https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20250522-MassArt-Graduation-Rain-500x375.png 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3582\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The temperature hovered around 45F as a late-spring nor&#8217;easter blew through. On any typical late-May day this would have been a beautiful spot to hold a graduation, but even with the gloomy weather there was beauty.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Much of the out-of-town crowd shivered their way through the day and purchased ponchos and blankets.\u00a0 Locals are generally made of firmer stuff, and most of us also saw the forecast and knew how to dress.\u00a0 There were lots of winter clothes draped over the finery.<\/p>\n<p>The graduates, however, were probably too excited to be cold.\u00a0 If they weren&#8217;t comfortable, they didn&#8217;t show it.\u00a0 Most gowns were puffed out as people wore jackets and sweaters underneath.\u00a0 (except for one or two that clearly didn&#8217;t get the memo about the weather.)<\/p>\n<p>The speeches were surprisingly good, and held the crowd&#8217;s attention despite our collective discomfort.\u00a0 Megh and I agreed that it was one of the better graduation ceremonies that we&#8217;ve attended.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3583\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3583\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20250522-MassArt-Graduation-Fashionista.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3583 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20250522-MassArt-Graduation-Fashionista-300x283.jpg\" alt=\"gaudy graduation garb\" width=\"300\" height=\"283\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20250522-MassArt-Graduation-Fashionista-300x283.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20250522-MassArt-Graduation-Fashionista-768x726.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20250522-MassArt-Graduation-Fashionista.jpg 927w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 85vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3583\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">One of the graduates of the fashion program<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The graduates looked fabulous, some more than others.<\/p>\n<p>The attendees, however, generally looked a bit bedraggled after a long wait in the rain.<\/p>\n<p>About that: we planned to arrive early, get decent parking so that Baba wouldn&#8217;t have to walk far, and stay as dry as possible.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/task-failed-successfully.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-3584 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/task-failed-successfully-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"task failed successfully\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/task-failed-successfully-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/task-failed-successfully-768x510.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/task-failed-successfully.jpg 847w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 85vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>Everyone else had the same great idea.\u00a0 Our idea exploded spectacularly in our face.<\/p>\n<p>We were part of the first wave of people.\u00a0 Two lines formed, one to each side of the gate.\u00a0 One side (our side) crossed a bridge over the water; the other (longer) line snaked around the corner and a couple of blocks down.\u00a0 The security check was a bottleneck.<\/p>\n<p>Everyone was soaked upon entry.\u00a0 Late arrivals really weren&#8217;t much worse off than early.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3576\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3576\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20250522-MassArt-Graduation-Baba-and-Bronwyn.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3576\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20250522-MassArt-Graduation-Baba-and-Bronwyn.jpg\" alt=\"Baba and Bronwyn\" width=\"800\" height=\"692\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20250522-MassArt-Graduation-Baba-and-Bronwyn.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20250522-MassArt-Graduation-Baba-and-Bronwyn-300x260.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20250522-MassArt-Graduation-Baba-and-Bronwyn-768x664.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 984px) 61vw, (max-width: 1362px) 45vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3576\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">I asked Megh to hold my camera for a moment, and she went and took one of the best photos of the day (in an artistic sense). Baba is taking in the ceremony while Bronwyn flashes a sardonic look at the camera.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>After the ceremony we headed to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blackroseboston.com\/\">Black Rose<\/a> for an early celebratory dinner, and enjoyed a stroll around Quincy Market as the rain abated.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Jack is now the recipient of a Bachelors in Fine Arts, bestowed by one of the best schools in the country.\u00a0 As his parents we cannot be more proud of him and his accomplishment. The ceremony was held at the Leader Bank Pavilion, a seaside open-air venue that, on any other day in May, would &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/?p=3575\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;JACK&#8217;S GRADUATION&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3581,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[24],"tags":[107,604,919,920,921,795],"class_list":["post-3575","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-family","tag-alpha","tag-graduation","tag-jack","tag-massart","tag-noreaster","tag-the-weather-has-been-drinking"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20250522-MassArt-Graduation.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4o3FW-VF","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3575","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3575"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3575\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3592,"href":"https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3575\/revisions\/3592"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3581"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3575"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3575"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.jonesling.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3575"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}