Hearty Congratulations, Cyn! Wonderful to see the photos.

I updated the blog post with a few more photos of people you might recognise, David Ahh! I know one is Ellen Bass, Cyn's supervisor, and another is a shot of David St John and is it Anna Journey?? His wife? I hope Cynders will pop in later and tell us who they are.

Updated blog post! - with a few more drinks under our belts...

Thanks all

There's a shot of me getting a hug from Jack Driscoll (fiction). Ellen Bass (poetry) is in the red dress. Yes David St John (poetry) and his wife Anna Journey (poetry). Mary Helen Stefaniak (non-fiction) with Ellen. Debra Gwartney (non-fiction) on stage as faculty speaker. Susan Cohen (poetry grad) was on my thesis committee and I on hers. We are both members of the mutual admiration society. I think her poetry is terrific.

My husband Tom, there with me, took some pics too, which once I figure out how to get them I will send to Cally - some nice photographs of Cally, the photographer.

I do not intend to use the degree to find a job. I began the MFA journey in June 2011 and although it was incredibly demanding, it was a wonderful way for me to find a community and to learn the discipline of writing every day. I am a stronger writer for it.

It was wonderful to have friends to share the accomplishment with. The champagne flowed. A good time was had by all.

Congrats, Cyn, on getting it done!

...Alex

This is the strongest, and strongest, justification I've ever read for doing an MFA.

Well said, Cynders. And well done!

Cally

p.s. For those coming late to the party, if you want to see the photos of Cyn's commencement, you'll have to scroll through the photos of seagull chicks and other liminal life! Sorry about that...

Cally

Warmest congrats, Cyn. Your Erato family is very proud of you.

Huge congrats, Cyn! An amazing accomplishment. And thanks for the shout-out and the links, Calligraphy!

Siham

Cyn, I'm very happy for you, well deserved and what a lot of hard work too--which makes it all, even that much more, worth while.

Mike

Congratulations Cyn!