Pomp and Circumstance

Hum along with me…

It’s easy to get so wrapped up in our own life struggles that we forget to see the day from our listeners’ perspective.

It’s graduation time.

In homes and towns around our country, caps and gowns are the symbols of a rite of passage and all the anxiety and hope it brings.

Today, this weekend, whenever it happens, will be pretty emotional for most parents, and many kids too.

You could do a lot worse than send your grads off with the wisdom of Dr. Seuss:

Congratulations!
Today is your day.

You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away.

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You’re on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go…

Oh! The places you’ll go!

You’ll be on your way up!
You’ll be seeing great sights!
You’ll join the high fliers
who soar
to high heights.

You won’t lag behind, because you’ll have the speed.
You’ll pass the whole gang and soon take the lead.
Wherever you fly, you’ll be the best of the best.
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

Except when you don’t.
Because, sometimes, you won’t.
..

Oh, the places you’ll go! There is fun to be done!
There are points to be scored, there are games to be won.
And the magical things you can do with that ball
will make you the winningest winner of all.
Fame! You’ll be famous as famous can be
with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.

Except when they don’t.
Because, sometimes they won’t.

I’m afraid that sometimes
you’ll play lonely games too.
Games you can’t win
’cause you’ll play against you.

All alone!
Whether you like it or not,
alone will be something
you’ll be quite a lot.

And when you’re alone, there’s a very good chance
you’ll meet things that scare you right out of your pants.
There are some, down the road between hither and yon,
that can scare you so much you won’t want to go on.

But on you will go,
though the weather be foul.
On you will go
though your enemies prowl.
On you will go
through the Hakken-Kraks howl.
Onward, up many
a frightening creek
though your arms may get sore
and your sneakers may leak.

On and on you will hike
and I know you’ll hike far
and face up to your problems
whatever they are.

You’ll get mixed up, of course,
as you already know.
You’ll get mixed up
with many strange birds as you go.
So be sure when you step.
Step with care and great tact
and remember that life’s
a Great Balancing Act…

And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)

KID, YOU’LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!

So…
be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray…
or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O’Shea,
you’re off to Great Places!
Today is Your Day!

Your mountain is waiting,
So…get on your way!