Graduation Tom Smith

I woke up this morning at 5.30 because I get up every morning at that time.  I could have slept later this morning but one's body betrays one.  It is time to get up, even if you are still exhausted.  Well, hung over might be more accurate, since one Arrogant Bastard Ale in the big bottle and half a bottle of cab seems to be more than I can really handle these days, unjust though that may be. 

We watched Juno last night.  I had no idea what hit me.  I thought it was going to be like Little Miss Sunshine, funny but very dark.  Instead I get an extremely funny and sweet love story that chooses life to boot.  I cried while LWJ patted my head.  They should put a warning label on these things.  My teenage boys were embarrassed to see their father brushing away tears, proof they have no idea what they are getting into.  That telephone pole that just got thrown through your chest:  welcome to the wonderful world of love.  That's why, to change directions just slightly, they can put that evil bitch in St. Louis who set up the fake MySpace account that caused the 13 year old girl to hang herself, in jail for 20 years for all I care.  Only the stupid and ignorant underestimate the sufferings of the young.

On a happier note, graduation was good.  I sat in the very back and saw only a few students I knew but that was OK.  Professors sit on the stage but we are not the point of the spectacle.  The graduates are.  US Attorney O'Brien gave a good commencement address, and not too long either, as he promised.  One graduate, handed his diploma, dropped to one knee, pulled out a whopper of a diamond ring, and asked the stunning person of blondness who was awarding him his diploma, for reasons I did not understand, to marry him.  Did not understand why she was handing him his diploma that is, not why he was asking her to marry him.  That was rather res ipsa loquitur.  Judging from the cheering, she said yes.  You don't see that every day.

After graduation, I said to a colleague something I realized was true, not an inevitable sensation after I say something.  I allowed I used to hate going to graduation because they seemed too long, mere ritual, etc. etc.  Now I like to go because I like watching all the happy young people.  I realized it was a profoundly geriatric sentiment, but what can one do.   They all looked so happy and strong, so full of energy.  I'm happy for them, of course, but mostly I just marvel.  We professors like to think we are a huge part of the process, but I think at most we are like the guys at the pit stop, putting in some gas as the cars go roaring by.  Our advice on law and life both amounts largely to pointing and saying, it's that way, and after that, you're on your own.

In any event, sincere congratulations to the USD Law class of 2008 on their very well deserved degrees.  I like to think we helped them (or you) out a little, but if you could have seen them there, you would have rightly concluded they were well poised to take care of themselves and do some great things for others as well.

Then I drove back to my home in the ecosystem accurately called coastal scrub, where today it must be 100 degrees.

Comments

[dearieme]

When proposed to in public, one should always decline. That's always been my policy, anyway.

[sandiegounited]

He was handed the diploma by the woman - Jessica - because she graduated last year. Apparently a fellow USD Law Alum can hand you your diploma at commencement if you have ties to that person; note all of the fathers handing their sons their diplomas, etc.
HTH.