We have all had many transitions in our lives. I’ve probably had more than most. Yes, a mind-boggling number of transitions. A number that’s overwhelming when I begin to count them. Some go un-noticed others are marked with ceremonies and special events. Transitions always mean an ending of one chapter and the beginning of another: Weddings, divorces, changes in jobs, changes in place of residence and many more.
But this is the time of year for another type of transition: graduations. There are probably thousands of them across this country. Graduations from Middle School, High School, Undergraduate college graduations and graduations from graduate schools just to name a few. Each one is a transition for the graduates. It marks the end of an era and opens the door to the next, sometimes more difficult and often mysterious until the next transition is upon them.
In the last month Katherine and I have had the opportunity to attend and participate in the celebrations around two such transitions. The first was Katherine’s son’s graduation from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He received his Master’s Degree. He had 12,000 fellow graduates. The keynote speaker was the author, Toni Morrison. It took place in the Rutgers football stadium in a pouring rain. Umbrellas and ponchos were the garb for the day. Now he is into the next chapter of his life looking for a job in a difficult employment environment.
Secondly, we traveled to Spokane, Washington for the graduation of Katherine’s granddaughter. She graduated from North Central High School with 250 classmates. That graduation took place in the Spokane Opera House with a brilliant but cool sun shining outside. In the fall she will be transitioning into her new chapter. She will leave home and enter a college in St. Paul, Minnesota.
In this day and age reaching those transitions and moving into the new chapters that face them is a mind-boggling accomplishment. We congratulate them both and wish them the best in their future pursuits.
Stan the Man
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