I've always been puzzled by the celebrations surrounding high school graduation. The excitement just doesn't quite fit the achievement.

Not that I'm complaining that much. With the money I pulled from my own graduation almost 10 years ago now, I funded my first trip to Europe (instead of, say, a new computer for college " mine was a glorified telegraph machine that had to be practically crank-started " or the needed text books that turned out to be really effing expensive). On the flip side, all I received for college graduation was a pat on the back and a bill in the mail.

I guess it's all about the rite of passage, you know: Accept this diploma, a handful of cash and prizes, and start being a productive member of society. Either way, it's a big deal and a time to celebrate.

Getting grad announcements in the mail? If you're not inclined to give cash, check out these gift ideas. At my own grad party, I received the obligatory "Oh, the Places You'll Go!" by Dr. Seuss " a very sweet gesture, I think. While out scouting for ShopGirl, I've run across great Cross pens at Kamber's (for writing all those bills), perfect dorm accents at I Want Cards and grad-themed charms at James Avery. Being a proud (read: cold and taciturn) Northerner, I can't support wearing charm bracelets, but I've been told they're huge here " like, seriously a big deal " so I'm trusting that walking around with a mortar board charm hanging off your wrist won't elicit stares.

You make it to 100, you must be doing something right. Miss Jackson's, a Tulsa retailer, is celebrating its 100th year in business this weekend.

The iconic, old-school department store first opened its doors in 1910 under the direction of Nelle Shields Jackson, a Pittsburgh native. The young woman had moved to Tulsa just a few years previously and had worked as a corsetiere (!).

Miss Jackson died in 1966, but she lived to see her successful store move to Utica Square, where it remains today.

I've never been to Miss Jackson's " in fact, I get to Tulsa all too rarely " but I'm tempted to check out the festivities planned this weekend (and maybe really make a day out of it and check out the Philbrook, too, one of the favorite spots in Tulsa).

Head to Miss Jackson's Friday and Saturday for two days full of trunk shows, spa and makeup events. Look for trunk shows and personal appearances by jeweler and curio designer Jay Strongwater, jeweler Claudia Lobao and designer Kevan Hall.

Tomorrow (Tuesday) is National Tartan Day. Seriously.

According to the Web site celebrating this plaid-clad day, more than 11 million people in the states claim Scotch or Scotch-Irish roots. And I'm one of them.

When I was traveling through Scotland a few years ago, I decided to look up my family " pretty much like everyone of Scottish descent does when they're there. Some surnames get kick-ass crests featuring swords and sayings like "Royal Is My Race." My family? A feral tabby. Really. The MacGillivray crest's motto is "Touch Not This Cat." My, how fearsome.

Anyway, I don't own a family kilt, but I do still own a kilt pin featuring the family crest. I may have to pin it on and head to Prairie Thunder Baking Company for lunch tomorrow. In celebration of National Tartan Day, Prairie Thunder is offering a free meal to anyone wearing a clan tartan or kilt.

Flipping through the April issue of Lucky magazine, I came across a really cool necklace: a metal whistle hanging from a long chain. It was familiar, somehow. It reminded me of salsa

One thing I've learned in my time living in Oklahoma is that you people love giving. Seriously, Oklahomans are incredibly generous of time and money. (You also try to talk to me while in line at the grocery store or in the airport terminal, but that's another post).

So here's something that should come easily: a campaign to build a community center in Kenya. Specifically, a center at the Maisha International Orphanage, a nonprofit headquartered right here in OKC.

Maisha was founded in 2006 with the goal of helping orphaned and destitute children and widows, providing education, shelter and food. The nonprofit operates an orphanage in the Nyanza Province of Kenya.

Every donation of $1 will supply the needed community center at the orphanage with one brick. That's math even I can handle: $1=1 brick. Maisha needs 5,000 bricks to complete the center; so far, according to the postcard that came across my desk, they have 820. That leaves 4,120 bricks and a lot of generous Oklahomans. "Jenny Coon Peterson

One thing I've learned in my time living in Oklahoma is that you people love giving. Seriously, Oklahomans are incredibly generous of time and money. (You also try to talk to me while in line at the grocery store or in the airport terminal, but that's another post).

So here's something that should come easily: a campaign to build a community center in Kenya. Specifically, a center at the Maisha International Orphanage, a nonprofit headquartered right here in OKC.

Maisha was founded in 2006 with the goal of helping orphaned and destitute children and widows, providing education, shelter and food. The nonprofit operates an orphanage in the Nyanza Province of Kenya.

Every donation of $1 will supply the needed community center at the orphanage with one brick. That's math even I can handle: $1=1 brick. Maisha needs 5,000 bricks to complete the center; so far, according to the postcard that came across my desk, they have 820. That leaves 4,120 bricks and a lot of generous Oklahomans. "Jenny Coon Peterson

Confession: I have renaissance faire tendencies.

It's something that I keep in check, but I'm always on the verge of getting way too excited for things that involve capes and sword fights and possibly centaurs. My current quasi-obsession with this isn't helping. It's actually kind of bad (the first season ended with a jumping freeze-frame

I'm a sucker for animals and old people. Show me an old animal and I'm done for. Who remembers that scene in the 1993 cinematic masterpiece "Homeward Bound" where you think Shadow isn't going to make it. I still

Tomorrow is St. Patrick's day, my second favorite holiday of the year. I wear green, I don my vintage shamrock necklace, I drink Guinness and maybe even do a jig (depends on how that Guinness drinking goes). I love it.

OKC isn't exactly known for its massive Irish population, but that doesn't stop local bars (and even the Downtown Library) from getting in on the action. Check these places out for a little corned beef and cabbage.

Talk about longevity " the House of Clay, 1100 N.W. 30th, is celebrating its 60th anniversary. To honor the big six-oh, House of Clay will have an open house from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, featuring giveaways, specials, a live sculptor and refreshments.

Check out the shop for more on the ceramics and tools it sells, along with information on any upcoming classes.

It's not just House of Clay celebrating a special day. Blue 7 is honoring its seventh year in business with a new addition. The store, 7518 N. May, is expanding the store to add a whole section dedicated to denim.

And two new stores with hopefully years of anniversaries ahead of them: Green Bambino, 5113 N. Shartel, is an eco-baby store that opened in early March, and Ladybugs and Lizards Children's Boutique, 1389 E. 15th in Edmond, celebrates its grand opening from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 27.