Miami traditions

Thursday
With her graduation coming up this weekend, Laura had asked if I could go up to campus this morning to take some pictures of her in her gown at various meaningful places around campus. Being exam week, it was very quiet around campus, as opposed to graduation weekend, when it will be crowded, and many people wanting pictures in similar places. We didn't quite get the full effect as she didn't want to wear her cap until graduation itself, and since it was a really hot sticky day, she was wearing shorts underneath rather than a dress! We had a worrying few moments at one point though. Our first stop was McGuffey Hall, the college of education building, where virtually all her classes have been the last three years. While I was taking pictures we put our purses down on a nearby bench. We then went off to the next stop, and it wasn't until I'd taken pictures there that I realized we'd both left our purses on the bench. We retraced our steps as quickly as we could, but as we approached the bench I could see it was empty! However, as we got closer I realized there was a post-it note stuck at one end which said, "If you left your purses on this bench, come up to room... to claim them! Big sigh of relief! Other than that, and the unpleasantly humid conditions, we had a great time, as we continued to the Hub, with the university seal where this photo was taken, the sundial, Upham arch, the fountains in front of the Center for the Creative Arts, Kumler Chapel, where several of her choir concerts were held, and the formal gardens. We skipped the stadium where she played in marching band for the first two years, since her graduation ceremony will be held there! My title is Miami traditions, since several of these locations have traditions associated with them. Tradition goes that you shouldn't step on the university seal out of respect for Miami history and tradition, and if you do you will fail your next exam! Since she was done with all her classes and exams, she figured she was safe! On the other hand, the Tri Delt sundial stands on a support of turtles atop a pedestal, and it is said that rubbing the turtles heads will bring good luck. Rumor also has it that couples who kiss under Upham Arch's lantern at the stroke of midnight are destined to marry - she hasn't put that one to the test! For more pictures of the day, you can check them out here.
We then got ourselves some lunch uptown, which we ate outside in the sun, then went back to her apartment and packed up some things for me to bring back.