My friend’s daughter is a student at Texas A&M.  Me being from Utah really do not totally understand what that means – but I am learning!  Being a student at A&M is learning about tradition and sticking together through thick and thin.  I was invited to be part of this tradition when Ms. Madison got her A&M ring.  Now to preface this story you must realize we have been in a drought for going on 3 years.  But of course on this day it POURED!  We had spent the night before at my friends home in Round Top, TX – we had many of the provisions for the after ring ceremony party with us so we needed to get to College Station early – needless to say we got wet.  Then on the drive over we dried out, time to unload, we got wet and so on and so on.  This was our mode all day long, we just get dry and it would be time to get out and do something else!

Our sweet little ring recipient could not help herself, she kept apologizing for bringing us all out in the rain!  To know Maddie is to love Maddie!

Maddie’s beau, Kale had determined we could park in one of the parking terraces on campus and then ride the shuttle to the ring ceremony.  We all arrive at the parking terrace, we all load up on the bus and we wait!  We are running late for our designated time slot – poor Maddie is beside herself – so what do you do – you sing “The Wheels on Bus” and that lightens the mood.  We finally arrive at our destination via the scenic route (thank you Donna for your history lesson of A&M – I LOVED IT!).

We run to the building, we do our best to make our way through the crowd, we reach the room where they are handing out the rings – Maddie signs for hers – they tell Daddy to put it on her finger and it is OVER!  Then we realize that was IT! and most of our group has not caught up with us yet.  We have the 6 year old, but him momma does not know that – I can only imagine what was going through her mind.  As it dawns on Maddie that this truly was IT – that most of our crew did not get to be part of this history and tradition, but since most Kale’s family is from A&M they know the drill.   Finally, we are reunited with our group and the celebration can begin – we have survived a very wet A&M ring ceremony.

Traditions are a good thing and the traditions these young people find at A&M will stay with them a lifetime – it is more than a ritual – it is a way of life for them!