I don’t think any of us were looking forward to the graduation ceremony itself, but DS was certainly looking forward to senior week and the chance to enjoy the company of friends for one last time in their "bubble " without the pressure of classes and to chance to say goodbyes. In smaller schools, the ways in which they dismantle their communities are generally well thought out. I don’t think he’s feeling as much of a loss over not walking but I suspect there is some. It’s a celebration of a class as much as personal achievement, and it’s nice to mark the former with the former!
I was looking forward to the small gathering of relatives who were happy to use this excuse to celebrate as a reason to see each other as well. Our family is small and far flung, so events like this are little anchors in our collective family life (and sure beat funerals. )
But this also marks time. It’s a milestone. Sure, it’s one we all expected he’d meet and on the schedule he did. It represents the end of this phase. For me, these have become bittersweet but important all the same.