Cyn Neely Takes A Degree And A Bow!
 

Yesterday we attended Cyn Neely's Commencement ceremony at Pacific University in Forest Grove where she received her MFA in writing.

Many of us have read Cyn's work, mostly on the non-met forum, though believe me, she demonstrates considerable formal muscle in many of her poems we haven't seen workshopped here!

It was a joyous event, and it was a privilege to share it with Cyn and her family. We were also thrilled to attend her excellent final presentation last weekend which was enthusiastically received by faculty and students alike.

We await the book, Cynders!

And while we wait, let's all raise an airy glass to congratulate Cyn on this significant accomplishment!

Here's a link to some highlights! (The party lowlights afterwards were even better!!!)

Nice, Cyn!

pssssst, Cally o, the link's down...

Onto it, Babe! Give me a mo... They are worth seeing - she GLOWS!!

Congratulations, Cyn! It is a big moment. Enjoy it.

Susan

I think the link is working now. Is it for you?

Yes, there they are!

Three rousing choruses of Gaudeamus Igitur! I'll sing 'em in three part harmony, all parts at the same time! :) Congratulations, Cyn.

It seems to me it was only yesterday you were talking about thinking about enrolling. Never has anyone taken an MFA quicker or is time speeding up for me? No matter, it is impressive that you actually did it. I hope it gives you glory and also a well-paying job. Big, big congrats.

Congrats, Cyn! What a great accomplishment. And in Cally's pictures, I see Susan Cohen, a local poet here who I know from the reading scene.

David R.

Bravissimo! Congrats Cyn and thanks Cally!

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!

Thanks for the congratulations everyone, and thank you Cally for bragging for me. (You knew I wouldn't.)

It was a lot of work, a lot of reading and both creative and critical writing. I am ready for a break from the critical stuff but want to keep the creative momentum going.

Thanks again.

Well Done!
 

Dear Cyn,

Yes, what an accomplishment! I am sorry I have come to this late but please do accept heartfelt congratulations on such a brilliant success, means a lot.

Best regards,

Abid

Huge congrats, Cyn! This is such a wonderful big deal.

And great to meet you finally at West Chester.

Charlotte

thanks Abid and Charlotte. Judging by how loopless I feel right now, I guess it was a big deal.

Off to find a loop to get into

"Cynthia's shining orb was made
Heaven to clear while day disclose."

Congrats, Cyn!

thanks Uche!

Yay on the MFA, Cyn!

Coming along late, but just as impressed as the rest!
(And it's kind of you not to use your degree to compete in the job market--blessings on you.)

Thanks Terese and Gail.
Not kindness, Gail. If I was hungry for a job, you bet I would use it. However, I did not get the degree as a means to that end. It was for completely selfish reasons - education as personal growth - a concept often poo-pooed these days. But not in my household. I loved (almost) every minute of it.