Wow. The folks in charge of it all gave all six kiddos a chance to speak, two minutes each, a common theme. They are all very young. They all have vast horizons in front of them. Carpe Diem!

Curiosity,  love,  kindness, passion and compassion when do these ideas fade?

They are a big group of graduates. Audrey was in the fifteen Salutatorians. They did not get the opportunity to speak and that is too bad because I am sure that they are full of curiosity, love, kindness, passion and compassion. I am also sure that the other more than 500 graduates are also full of those aspirations. Some are going into the military services. Some are going off to further their education beyond high school. Some are going off to the world of jobs. Some know or think they know what they want to do in the years to come. Some do not. Some are intrinsically motivated. Some are reaching for each ring and hoping for gold (or brass).

Looking at this group from up in the stands as they are perched at this jumping off point in their young lives, I reminisce fondly to my own graduation ceremony. It was many more years than I care to admit to myself. We were all seated on bleachers set up on stage in Cincinnati’s Music Hall. My graduation class was all boys. There were more than 220 of us. Music Hall has great acoustics. I once saw Peter, Paul and Mary in concert there on stage without microphones. It was great. I would probably not remember it at all except for this.

There were more than 220 of us and one of them discovered a loose board in the steps that made a crisp thwack sound when trod on properly as he returned to his seat in the second row of bleachers. Imagine. We were all boys about to be thrust into the world of men and war. It was 1967. (“Squirrel!”)

ThWACK! THwack! bumpff… THWACKub. … only 198 guys left to test their metal. Only one chance per player. The quiet first row never stood a chance but in all fairness, they did not get a chance to play.

The game was on and boredom no longer reigned within the class of baby boomers.

I missed Cheryl’s physical presence at Audrey’s ceremony. Later as I drove home we talked about it.

Carpe Diem, Audrey!