Dad and the graduate. (Photo courtesy Larry Sidelinger)
I’m back from five days of beautiful weather and watching my “little girl” walk across the stage to accept her degree. Juris Doctorate of Law has a nice ring to it. She is the first person in my family to ever go this far in education, and I’m sure great things await her.
I want to tell you a little about my graduation experience. First, let me tell you about her commencement speaker, Mr. Allen Bud Selig. For those who aren’t baseball fans, he was commissioner of Major League Baseball from the early ’90s to 2003 and almost single-handedly brought baseball back to Milwaukee, back in the ’80s, before being asked by other owners to take over baseball’s leadership.
I, being a baseball fan for life, sat and listened intently to this wise old gentleman, who my daughter had taken a class with, that he taught every week, for her law school degree, talk about the changes our country has endured over time.
He said, “The good old days of the ’50s had the Korean War; the ’60s, the Cuban missile crisis, and the Berlin Wall; followed by the Vietnam War and the social unrest of the ’70s, might not have been that good.” And his point was that through all of this turmoil, the United States had always led the way in the fight for freedoms and democracy for her people.
I listened intently as he referenced the turmoil we have today in Washington as another obstacle that our people will overcome and be stronger for. He spoke to the graduates to “stretch and think outside the box,” “dream big dreams,” and don’t settle for mediocrity. And “every day, improve from the day before.” Folks, I’m tellin’ ya, for this old drivah, it was pretty heavy stuff, and all really good!
But, and I’ve got to ask, why is it when you’re in a warm climate, and you’re in a building that is air-conditioned, the powers that be have to try and freeze the be gee bees out of everyone. I’m from a cold place and I, along with 3,000 other people, nearly froze to death during that lovely ceremony!
Anyone taken a plane trip anywheres lately? We’ve all heard about the chaos the industry has been through lately. I got to thinkin’ while I’m waiting, again, for the boarding of the plane, who is the “Einstein” of this industry that loads the front of the plane first, so that the people in the back of the plane have to basically trip over the people in front to get to their seats in the back? And those in front that have been seated look like they just ate a jar of pickles! It really seems to me to be a simple problem to figure out, but guess the “lights are on but nobody’s home!”
And on top of that, why is it when they come on the intercom system and tell people to sit down, nobody pays much attention? Guess they figure the captain’s talkin’ to everyone else! And the overhead luggage compartments, people trying to cram overstuffed luggage into them, pretty sure if someone could get a leg that high, a kick or two strategically placed would secure everything in place as well.
And how about going through those lines? Ya might as well have stayed in your PJs that morning, as you’re going to get half-undressed anyways, belt, shoes, hat, wallet. Then, if you happen to be a woman who is wearing one of those personal support systems that holds certain things up and in place, you might get a free pat-down while the world looks on! Just got to be a better way I’m thinkin’.
Oh, and if ya thinkin’ about havin’ an adult beverage while you kill a little time, forget it unless you feel like you want to pay your mortgage twice that month. A Snickers bar and two newspapers was nine bucks! Now that was capitalism at its best! All in all had a great time, proud dad here, and glad to be home! Till next time …
Larry Sidelinger
Yankee Pride Transport
Damariscotta
