This morning we awoke in a hotel room in Denver, the wake-up call scheduled for a mere ten minutes before we were expected to meet the airport shuttle downstairs. Shuttle at 6:40, call at 6:30. We made it down there in great time, which was not really a surprise since we hadn't settled into our room until after midnight so we were still packed. We had just driven about two hours from Laramie, Wyoming where we visited our dear friend Anthony for the weekend to witness his graduation from law school at the University of Wyoming. We made it a priority to attend Anthony's graduation because he is a great friend who accomplished a great feat. Over the past three years we shared many conversations on the phone and occasionally in person where he expressed his love of and devotion to his goal - and to the intricacies of the law he was learning. I recall talking to Anthony at length about legal scenarios involving shooting at turkeys but killing family members, creative copyright law (such as the student who apparently created and the sold the Nike logo for $30 decades ago) and of course, about the empire of storage units he plans to eventually create. I admit that Laramie is not an ideal destination, not somehwere I would pay to visit on my own, but Anthony will be first to tell you that it is an ideal locale in which to learn and study. The winters feature days on end of sub-zero temperatures and biting winds. Little to no social scene exists (unless you consider livestock your friends) and the terrain is basically a high cold desert plateau. So you bundle up, attend class, and then study indoors the rest of the time to evade the arctic winds. Some members of Anthony's family attended and they were a joy to meet or reacquaint with and we are all intensely proud of his achievement. (Of course, taking a weekend trip to the high desert in the middle of nowhere also helps us secure a friendly attorney once he passes the Bar.) It was a speedy trip - we flew out late Friday night and came back early this morning - but well worth the time spent with friends. Some highlights:Anthony receiving his Juris Doctorate hood. I apologize for the shaky camera work but the shouting friends nearby created come vibrations. We arrived a bit late and were forced to sit in the back with all of the crying babes.
Ant relaxing at the reception
Ant affixing our graduation gift. The helmet reads, "Quid Pro Quo" which I understand translates to, "Something for Something." Indeed. He sacrificed a lot for this degree.
Matt at the Cowboy Bar with ladies dancing on the bar behind him.
Anthony delivering his closing arguments to a riveted jury
