Congratulations Graduates Class of 2008

by Ross Vick

HIGHLAND PARK TX -- My family attended the graduation ceremony for the Highland Park High School class of 2008. It was an impressive event. Complete with two solo musical numbers, and the usual floating beach balls and inflatable pigs bouncing amongst the graduates. The class had over 500 young men and women over half of whom earned scholarship offers from hundreds of universities and colleges around the world. This class set the record for community service hours blasting the doors off of the requirement by nearly 200%. This class earned a record $23,718,000 in college scholarship monies due to their hard work and academic achivements.

We were there taking all of this in as our third child Brannen, of four was amongst the class of 2008. A Fine Arts Honor Society member, she will be attending Rhodes College in the fall. For the summer she will be learning the food industry from the inside out working as a hostess for a trendy new restaurant in town.

We'll have one chick left in the nest come fall and that will be a new experience for everyone. Except my wife who was an only child.

The thing I'll miss about this graduate is all of the new music she introduced me to: Ben Folds, The Decemberists, Death Cab, Elliot Smith to name a fraction. . .I used to drive her to school before her license and vehicle robbed me of that one special segment of the day to share time listening to her music.

So, as all of you parents, grand parents, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles and cousins relax this weekend not fully comprehending that school's out for another summer, remember to take things as slowly as the traffic will allow and treasure the time you have with your family and friends.

I reminded Brannen in my song Carpe Diem, which I wrote for her a couple of years ago: "Dig in and hold on, You're going to get your freedom; The things you're looking for are right there where you need'em; Be a little Bold All of the Nano Seconds add up To Way More Happy Moments than the sad ones: Trust me on this one, Trust me just this once."

If this class is any indication, our future is looking good. Congratulations to the Class and their family of 2008.

Peace and Blessings to you all.
Ross
TrueHeart