In anticipation of Saturday, I’m being a bit nostalgic and thought I’d post photos of my previous three graduations.

The first one was 54 years ago. Funny that I graduated from a Lutheran high school, and now it’ll be a Lutheran university. I’ve come full circle and I’m not even Lutheran. (In case you can’t find me, I’m the one on the upper left.)

Colonel Richardson High school in 1974:My whole family turned out for that one.

The last one, Salisbury State College (now renamed Salisbury University), was 36 years ago. My grandmother (pictured here at the high school one) also came to my college commencement with my parents. She’s in the heavenly cloud of witnesses now.

My mom and dad were present not only at all my commencements, but every important event in my life. I am blessed beyond words to have parents who have always cheered me on and are still doing so at this point in my life, and I don’t take that for granted. Since Saturday will be an extremely long day, they won’t come to my Master’s degree commencement. That’s why we staged this photo.

Also funny to me that I will be receiving the highest degree of anyone on my side of the family. And I am far from the being brightest bulb in our family pack. I guess I’m just the most stubborn! Maybe my example will serve to spur on the next generation of Richardsons.

Congratulations to all the graduates out there!