Sing, Floss and Don't Forget the Sunscreen

It’s graduation time. Out in the city, young people are dressed up and out and about on their way to or from their big moment. I just helped a friend write a speech for a graduating 8^th grade class and between that and the recent Colbert thing I wrote and reading a commencement address Anne Lamott gave, such speeches are on my mind. I’ve only given one— many years back to my school’s 8^th grade about the lessons of Jazz. (Maybe I can dig it up.) And of course, would love to give more. But along with that elusive Honorary Doctorate, ain’t no University in the country that will ever invite me to speak. Oh, well.

 

But there is something appealing about trying to condense in one short speech everything you would like a future generation to consider. My friend found this one from Kurt Vonnegut in 1997 to fold into his 8^thgrade speech and truth be told, this would be hard to top. (Particularly love number 7 in light of my recent Facebook flaming). 

 

Enjoy!

 

1.    Wear sunscreen.

 

2.    Do one thing every day that scares you.

 

3.    Sing.

 

4.    Floss.

 

5.    Don't be reckless with other people's hearts. Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.

 

6.    Don't waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself.

 

7.    Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

 

8.    Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements.

 

9.    Stretch.

 

10.  Get to know your parents. You never know when they'll be gone for good. 

 

11. Be nice to your siblings. They're your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

 

12. Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. 

 

13. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young.

 

14. Accept certain inalienable truths: Prices will rise. Politicians will philander. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble, and children respected their elders.

 

15. Respect your elders.

 

16.   And trust me on the sunscreen.