Queen for a Day

Last Friday I had an experience that will be with me until the day I die:  I attended a retirement party given in my honor at my university.  It was an incredible extravaganza (I have some very creative colleagues) that included not only speeches but songs with rewritten lyrics, a video of people talking about me, and . . . 

 The front of the crown

A crown!!! This amazing piece of art was made by my dear colleague Margaret, an artist as well as a university employee.  Margaret poured all her talent into crafting this beautiful memento.  I wore it for a minute, but didn't want it to fall off and break, so it sat on the pillow she also made.

It includes many things that are so meaningful to me -- the snakes represent my long interest in the Medusa; there's a griffon and a dragon, representing my overall interest in mythology, words related to my teaching and books, books, books all over it.
    

 The interior of the crown

 It was such a wonderful event -- I felt that I could hardly deserve all of the attention and affection.  Happily, my son and daughter were there, as well as my husband -- I wasn't sure my son would make it, but I browbeat him until he came.  His comment:  "I didn't know it was going to be this big of a deal!"

 The side of the crown

 

It was a big deal, seriously.  I was sure I would cry, but in fact I laughed all the way through it, it was so delightful.  The only time I choked up was when I had to give thanks for everything they'd done.

  Me, looking silly/happy in my crown

 

Here's a fuzzy cell phone pic of me wearing the crown.  It was a very, very happy day of my life.