Saturday, May 27, 2006

Cursed - but by whom?

Even the witty Alanis Morissette could not have imagined this scene while writing her lyrics to the hit song "Isn't it Ironic?"!!! Rain during a graduation ceremony is pretty common - maybe as common as rain during a wedding.

However...

Imagine nervously walking up onto the stage to receive your diploma. And not only that, but doing so after a key-note speech, which dragged on for around half an hour despite a light drizzle that threatened all with the possibility of a full-fledged rainstorm. Imagine a situation in which, immediately after setting your foot on that stage, you hear a faint "boom."

At first you think nothing of it, and continue to approach the Associate Dean. But then, she reads out your name into the mike and nothing comes out of the speakers. She tries again, to no avail. And again.

You just stand there, right next to her, and ask her what the hell you should do. But she doesn't even look at you because she's as panicked and clueless as you are. Then a technician comes on stage and tells her that there's been a short circuit. She asks him to fix it... pronto!

You begin to think that this mishap is only a hiccup, and that all you have to do is stand on that stage for a while, and wait for the ceremony to continue. But after about two minutes of awkwardly waiting, the threatening drizzle finally gives in to a full-fledged deluge. Now, you’re looking out past the roofed stage, and you watch formerly seated parents, friends, significant others and fellow graduates run frantically for the nearest possible shelter.

At that moment a technician reports that the system is back on line. And then another one of the Deans who are up on stage says the following words into the microphone:

We are going to have to cancel this ceremony because of the storm. Please everyone; go into the gym, where we will be holding a reception for the family and friends of our graduates…

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I present to you my graduation ceremony. And I ask you: “Isn’t it ironic?”

So close... yet so far away!

Now the question is: which one of you bastards has put a curse on me?!?!?! Or was it Nasrallah and his little puppy in Damascus?

Either way, and in all honesty, it was definitely a ceremony to remember. Atleast, now I can say that I've left Hopkins with a BANG! Wohoow!

7 comments:

Hassan said...

Sorry about that Raja. Well look at it this way: you've already had your undergrad ceremony, and I think you can now tell me: which story will you be telling to your children?

the perpetual refugee said...

Dr. Vic

Lazarus said...

sorry, i left my voodoo doll in the shower ... :)

Anonymous said...

Congrats! Anyway, two years ago it would have been 17-year cicadas instead of rain (considering your location haha).

Raja said...

laz, you %&@#*!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

mabrooook raja! sorry i couldn't be there... to compensate i made sure to party a little harder in vegas last night minshanak. apparantly mother nature did the same. best of luck with your job search!

Ramzi said...

Mabrook!

Please tell me that aterwards, in a quiet secluded place, you looked at the heavens above, raised your hand up high, and flipped Him the bird.