After a two year delay, Peter Ruimerman has pomp and circumstanced his way to the word graduate. He and his 2020 classmates at the London School of Economics were celebrated on Tuesday, July 12 at one of many small ceremonies held, finally wrapping up schooling in a pandemic. Pete was one of four students from his class of 35 to walk in a short ceremony, fortunately held indoors because of the record-breaking heat.

It was presided over by Dame Minouche Shafik, the head of LSE. Even more noteworthy was the presence of Pete’s mom Janet Weidner and her sister Pat. Afterwards there was a drinks and canape reception with graduate students and professors. After that was some carousing with friends in the university pubs, George the IV and the White Horse, which are reserved for the graduate and doctoral students.

It was a wonderful opportunity for Pete to catch up with many friends from his program and other 2020 programs that he hadn’t seen in two years. The reunion aspect of the adventure may sit more readily in his mind than the actual graduation ceremony.

Rather interestingly, Pete shares that they call students who are ready to graduate but have not had the official ceremony “graduands.” Only after the process is complete is the term graduate used. The little things you learn along the road of life.

The Aquinnah Library is the place to be on July 28 at 5 p.m. Nancy Slonim Aronie will be there, not only to discuss her book Memoir as Medicine, but to offer signed copies. Goodreads describes her guide to The Healing Power of Writing Your Messy, Imperfect, Unruly (but Gorgeously Yours) Life Story as a “wonderfully fresh and frank guide to why and how to write personal stories that will heal, liberate, inspire — and entertain.”

There are some new officers patrolling our Island roads, protecting and serving, after rigorous Massachusetts Police Academy training. Among others, I offer congratulations to Michael Dullea, Cory Medeiros, Brad Fielder and Cooper Chapman.

Although his visit wasn’t for his mom Claire Ganz’s birthday, his timing was pretty spot on. Owen Singer and the sport fisher he works on tied up in Menemsha harbor for a few days amidst a week or so of harbor hopping. A dockside cookout, a visit with granddad Bob Ganz and friends along with a lot of love for mom were all things Owen accomplished while in town. Happy birthday to Claire, who celebrated on July 19.