I have been the recipient of a couple of graduation invitations. I know, who would want the stodgy old newspaper lady at their graduation? But there it is.
One came from Dayson Cash, who is one of my favorite students in Watonga for several reasons. One is his name is easy to remember and I learned it a long time ago. We laughed about that when he dropped off the invite. I have been photographing him for so long that he can’t even recall a time when I wasn’t sticking a lens in his face.
But one thing that isn’t laughable is the next thing I told him, and I am telling the rest of the graduates right here and right now: be careful, please.
Not just careful, be the stick in the mud, fuddy duddy, buzz killer at the festivities after graduation.
Monday night there was a news story from Davis about one of their prospective graduates who won’t be in her seat at the ceremony because she is in a casket instead. She rolled her car Sunday and died at 18 years old. There was a young man who drown at Canton Lake, also dead at 18. It is too much to bear for parents, siblings, other family members, classmates and the rest of the community. I don’t ever want to write another story about that kind of heartbreak. So don’t make me.
It goes without saying that new grads shouldn’t drink and drive, or swim, or boat. It should be second nature to fasten a seatbelt, drive the speed limit and generally behave behind the wheel. Or in the boat. Or at the beach.
It may seem like that means passing up a good time. It may be, because driving fast or swimming in deep cold water can be fun.
But use your head and the good sense that has been on display the past four years. Be careful anyway. We need you. This town and community need you, need the impact you can make when you are part of the public, alive and well.
So please, please, please be cautious and think about what you are doing and the chances you could be taking. Do it for the people you love. Heck, do it for the stodgy old newspaper lady who only wants to write about the good things in your life. I didn’t get this old by being foolish.