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Wednesday, June 2, 2010

she's gonna fly now

Under the radar for the past two weeks, we're back from an incredible experience. On May 23rd our youngest daughter, Erica Joy, graduated from Georgetown School of Medicine as a doctor of emergency medicine. Pride, joy, love, excitement, memories. . .these words barely scratch the surface of our emotions as we watched her move across the stage and into her new life after four grueling and incredible years.
The benediction for the commencement included a plea to the Creator on behalf of the 'young warriors' to 'look down and call them to do extraordinary things' using 'their own deep gladness which can meet the desperate needs of the world.' They left DAR Constitution Hall to the theme from Star Wars--fitting battle music!
We helped her move to Philadelphia the next week where she will begin three years of residency at Hahnemann University Hospital. When Erica was little I used to raise her little toddler arms singing the theme from the film Rocky because she was such a tough, energetic and curious creature. Little did I know she'd start her career in the same city years later. Life is sweet that way.



14 comments:

clairz said...

You are a deservedly proud mom--what a huge achievement this is. Congratulations to you and your daughter.

nan said...

Wonderful! Congratulations to your daughter. May she go out and do great service! Happy for all of you. This is JOY after a lot of hard work, I'm sure!

Annie Jeffries said...

Yay!! Dancing the victory dance with Rocky. Awesome. congratulations to Erica Joy.

Snap said...

Noni,

How wonderful for all of you! Graduating from Georgetown Medical (do you know how impressive that sounds?) and on to her residency in emergency medicine. Exciting!! Best wishes and congratulations to all!!! (Love her name ... Erica Joy ... she has certainly brought Joy!)......

Donna said...

Congratulations to you ALL!! How Wonderful!! She's beautiful!!
Praying for a Wonderful Life for her!!
hughugs

Julie Kwiatkowski Schuler said...

That is so awesome! Congratulations to Erica!

splendid said...

Congratulations to you all!

jabblog said...

Many congratulations to your daughter and her proud parents who brought her up so well. University graduations are so poignant!

Marianne said...

Huge congratulations to Erica! and to mom and dad! What a benediction!
'tough, energetic and curious creature' had me smiling big time.
Cheers and wishing her my very best! xox

Daryl said...

Mazel tov!

How freaking wonderful for her (and by extension you & your husband)... and she's way better looking than Sly...

Judy Merrill-Smith said...

Congrats!

Kat Green said...

What a moment!! Thanks for chronicling. Commencement addresses are my favorite "sermons." They're always wonderful to hear or to read. Erica was richly blessed to have been born into your family.

hollychrome said...

awwwww, that's wonderful - congratulations!!!!!!

Gayle said...

wow...what a beautiful piece you've written about your daughter. So much more work ahead of her, but it sounds like she is a go-getter with lots of support. I wish her the best of luck.