A special graduation

Oh, my goodness, what joy! My one and only grandchild, Amulen Rozmus, walks the stage of the Wayne State University Field House this Thursday, May 7.

The ceremony begins at 5 p.m., the Underwood/Rozmus parents and grandparents present with beaming faces, so help us God.

For when Amulen accepts his diploma, he will do so with understanding that it took a village and a city to guide him to that time, place, and success.

I first heard his name in 2008. He was one of a posse of young boys who ran the red, sooty streets of Jinja, Uganda, the town nearby the house my daughter Kelly and her husband Steve rented.

Amulen’s grandmother and mother lived in the Karimojong village nearby Jinja. Soon, the boy became the main subject of conversation during Kelly’s phone calls from Uganda.

Although Kelly and Steve had carefully planned the interruption in their professional lives in California for several years in Uganda, they hadn’t considered the unexpected, irresistible, complicated blessing of adopting a Ugandan child.

Meanwhile, they emailed me photos of their mischievous charge.

A charmer, indeed. Steve continued to manage an internet café in Jinja, and Kelly, semester after semester, resumed teaching classes nearby in a private school.

The more they revealed of their adventures when we spoke by phone, the greater my interest to look this Ugandan boy into his dark face and white eyes.

Then, in 2010, after much discussion with my late husband, I determined, with his blessing, to prepare for the flight over the globe to Uganda.

Thursday, December 2, 2010, I slept my first night under a mosquito net in the Underwood/Rozmus household. I fell asleep to drum and bird music in the distance.

Mine was the pleasure to watch Amulen cook scrambled eggs for our breakfast, play his pranks on me such as hiding the pen I used for journal writing.

Night after night to Christmas Eve, the birdcall, drumming, and singing escalated.

Then, Friday, Christmas Eve day, as I wrapped presents, Amulen hid the tape and my scissors. Laughed until he coughed in spasms.

Several years after my visit, Kelly and Steve adopted Amulen, returned to California where Amulen excelled in academics and enjoyed acting in several stage performances.

And of all surprises, before he graduated from high school, he chose Wayne State University for his college education.
The draw across the continent?

The University’s business program, for Amulen fell in love with Detroit, possesses vision for its future. He sees opportunities the city offers, and a business degree will help seal his success.

Therefore, this Jaja (grandmother) anticipates this Thursday evening with much joy.

I will be reunited with his Rozmus grandparents to celebrate and commence Amulen’s passage into the business world, and the glorious independence of supporting himself.

Contact Iris at irisfarmletters@gmail.com