Well here it is, the last week of school. A hot handful of eager eighteen-year-olds in my life are graduating on Thursday. I am nothing but a spectator, watching them take the giant leap from high school to adulthood.
Doesn’t it seem appropriate then to blog away some words of wisdom? And who better to do it than this Saint right here?
(Begin soft hip-hop music with passionate gospel choir)
Dear 2007 Seniors I say this unto you:
Teachers have been warning you against the evils of procrastination. Procrastination doesn’t exist in the adult world. Instead, we call late starts opportune times of highest creative frequency and function. A talent really.
Chapstick addiction is real and can be avoided.
The best way to silence people is to agree with them.
Like John says “There is no such thing as the real world. Just lies you’ve got to rise above.” Think about this when you “bust down the double doors” but don’t forget, “the best of you” is “still hiding up” your “sleeve.”
Knowing all the names of the Otterpop characters is a good start. To what I don’t know.
Confidence is just humility in disguise.
Give self-mastery as many tries as it takes.
All these crazy predictions about the future, like aliens and robots taking over the earth, are just crazy predictions. Don’t get me wrong, aliens and robots both exist, though I do not recommend marrying one of either.
Once in awhile, and just for fun, believe everything you read.
Remember that a testimony is like a muscle. It likes to be recognized, flexed and exercised regularly. Never take for granted. If properly trained, it can be your greatest weapon.
Use similes. (And smiles.)
Expand word choices.
Go to college and stay there until you are done.
Getting your heart broken is a must-do. It’s practically the most intense feeling a human being can experience. Really the only Wonder of the World.
From Sister Parkin “Never suppress a generous thought.”
Be open to new ideas DAILY.
Last of all, when I am a Senior Citizen in twenty or so years, please don’t honk when I am driving 15 under the speed limit. What was 15 mph in my day will probably be 35 in yours due to speed limit inflation.
Word,
c jane
(end hip-hop)
Wow. I’m so inspired I will now take out all my yearbooks and finally KIT with all of my long-lost math class buddies.
Meanwhile, I’m going to go eat a red Poncho pop, followed by a blue Louie.
Yeah, I roll like that.
Mrs. Dub, I have no idea what you just said. Am I really that old?
CJane, honey, you totally beat Dick Cheney. It shoulda been you…it shoulda been you.
I always love when you share the words of your wisdom. Today my favorite is:
“The best way to silence people is to agree with them”
I think I’ll have to stitch that on a pillow or wall hanging!
graduation season always makes me depressed b/c i haven’t graduated from college. yet.
ps. ethan will be so pleased that he’s the guestbook guy this week
cjane, “never suppress a generous thought” has been a motto of mine for the past 13 years, and my original american idol & southwestern homegirl CAMILLA KIMBALL said it first (and maybe she was quoting someone else?). i stuck it up in my locker the first day of high school! so appropos…
justine, you need to get a box of otter pops RIGHT NOW! then you can roll with me -n-mrs. dub.
jamie,
i am very impressed that a gospel quote is what hung on your locker door. mine had innappropriate pictures of my friends and phrases like “school sucks” “my parents suck” and “today sucks” drawn artfully on binder paper. well done, child.
cjane,
chapstick addiction CANNOT be avoided. in my angry disagreement i think i am going to organize a really expensive really self important really poorly attended alternative commencement at MY blog.
kelly
(i’m sorry i’ve tried to bite my tongue about that but today it seems your speech has inspired my humility [confidence] to speak on such matters.)
I hate Otter Pops.
My kids are sucking (squeek squeek squeek) on otter pops at this exact moment. The planets are aligned.
Carina, me too.
Cjane, so true about heartbreak.
Again you are brilliant. Again I am quoting you.
My favorites are, “Give self-mastery as many tries as it takes, Go to college and stay there until you are done”, and the hip hop beat you wrote this post to.
Hip hop reminds me of my good old high school days. I used to be quite the hip hop head. It’s just not the same anymore.
The college thing is another story. I graduated high school in ‘98 and I just got my Associates degree. I am one slow mover. Having a baby and a husband doesn’t allow a speedy finish to a Bachelors. At least in my shoes.
Self-mastery. It is a never ending process. Try, try again I say (I made that up you know). Can we ever really master ourselves? Really? Well, I’ll leave that up to the class of ‘07. Good luck guys. You have a lot to teach us.
1. One of the reasons that I didnt go to my HS reunion is because I KNEW that they would play that song like it was SOOO true.
2.I was just thinking yesterday about words of wisdom I would tell the graduates if they ever axed me (which they never do) and I decided that “you are not the most important person in the whole world” would be what I said. Of course, this was after I watched Demi Moore talk for ten minutes on her “blended” family and toilet paper and her “really great” movie and “Ashton” and “Mexican train dominoes” (that I have been playing for YEARS–the are not new, Demi) and how important she was, so this could be what colored my mood.
3.I needs me an Alexander the Grape.