The Graduate

Graduation is when a good time should be enjoyed by all. For the most part, that is the way it is with families with whom most of us are familiar.

Seeing young kids about to flap their wings and leave the nest with anticipation that the next four years will be a defining time in their lives, you wish them Godspeed and say a prayer that good tidings lie ahead for them. After all, they someday will hold the world’s future in their hands. From this generation, there is the reality that they will need to manage the vicissitudes of government, social justice, sexuality, homelessness, environment, immigration and civil obedience.

Everyday problems, great and small. They will be expected to be their brothers’ keepers. They will need to give of themselves to make good triumph over evil; they will have to set and uphold lofty standards, finding a way to underscore fairness while being responsible and ambitious. They will need to take care of have-nots without bankrupting the system.

God help them!

This is the way it was with one kid and one community this past weekend.

Alex is a typical kid in his neighborhood who benefited from a Catholic education which makes his grandparents very proud. There is security in the knowledge that he is the beneficiary of a good familial foundation — the fundaments that should help him through challenging and abrupt times.

If it were appropriate to preach him a sermon, the message would be that he underscores the following preachments: Develop and maintain a passion for the work ethic.

Allow your word to become your bond.

Recognize that being a gentleman is a good practice.

Remember the old saying that manners will take you where money won’t.

Seek friendships with older people and respect their sage advice.

Be respectful and supportive of the “little” people.

Return your phone calls. Send thank you notes for the simplest of things.

Reserve your greatest contempt for child and spousal abusers. They are the biggest cowards in our society.

Continue your family tradition of respect for the animal kingdom.

Favor green salads, fruits, nuts and vegetables in your diet.

Remember it is still nice to open the car door for ladies.

Appreciate the outdoors and the environment.

Save a tree and enjoy the emotional good that comes about.

Give history the highest priority in your life.

Let the road hogs have the road.

Keep the ills of social media forever at arm’s length.

Remember that vindictiveness and envy are as injurious to your health as sugar.

Give humor the highest regard to disarm, illuminate, and uplift, always remembering some people can tell a joke; some can’t.

Honor the flag for the long-standing traditional reasons.

Read, read, read, read, read.

There will be plenty of words to live by to accompany you on your life’s journey, but the following perspective would be good to grasp and maintain: “Most of us miss out on life’s big prizes.

The Pulitzer. The Nobel. The Oscars. Tonys. Emmys.

But we are all eligible for life’s small pleasures.

A pat on the back, a kiss behind the ear.

A four-pound bass, a full moon. An empty parking space.

A crackling fire, a great meal, a glorious sunset.

Hot soup. Cold beer.

Don’t fret about copping life’s grand rewards.

Enjoy its tiny delights. There’s plenty of all of us.”