Joel Nieto Graduates!!!

Well, I am very happy to report that the Joel-ster has graduated from Lamar Consolidated High School. Yes, this is my Alma Mater! It is also Sally's...My sisters Adela, Gloria, Norma, and brother Sammy. From our extended family...We have Eric (Frank) Belmarez, Andy Castillo, Mario Diaz - all cousins. How about that??? Wow - another branch from our family tree is learned in skool now.

What is new from Joel's graduation and is very different from when we graduated is that the ceremony was moved indoors at Katy's auditorium. I was a bit unsure about this. The rite of passage has been to bring cowbells, air horns, and another rather annoying paraphanalia to make as much noise as possible when the graduate is announced. All fine and dandy in an open-air venue such as a football stadium. However, given the cozy confines of an air-conditioned auditorium, I decided to maintain a sense of decorum and civility and only bought my cowbell. Ha,ha. After all, how uncouth is it to bring a loud airhorn to such a venue? Apparently, my fellow rednecks don't care as they were ringing through out and letting them blast until their cans were empty. Oh well. I felt severely under prepared, but Joel's mom made up for it. She had made a HUGE, HUGE...When I mean, HUGE, it's pretty darn big. A sign that read, "Way to Go Joel Nieto". Yes, everyone in the family held up one letter so you can get an idea how big it was. Ah yeah - dignity was restored and Joel was properly feted. I'm glad that they were also Lamar graduates so that they could spell the letters correctly.

I will post some of Joel's pictures here when I get them offloaded my digital camera. They are quite nice.

What are Joel's plans? Well, like any teenager they are subject to change. However, for school...He will be attending Sally's alma mater - Wharton. He's got a good start on getting that done. He's been taking classes during high school that carry to college. His junior and senior years will be at University of Houston - Uncle Sammy's and Aunt Norma's and Uncle Bob's alma mater. It is also where cousin Mario Diaz will be graduating soon. Mario, incidentally, is working on a double major - music and accounting. How about them apples! We're so proud of everyone.

Joel? Well, Joel is thinking about going to education like Aunt Norma and Cousin Carmen. Joel would like to teach History. Good for him! For me? I am so proud of him and just wish him to be a strong Christian and a good young man - respectful of the family and society. He's just a wonderful, wonderful, son. It gives me hope for the other kids..

Ciao for now,

Joe.