Message to the class of '81

(Family friendly warning, following some of the links below might lead to sites with songs or message boards containing naughty language.)

To the rest of you who graduated from high school in 1981, and especially from Dulles, what the pooh happened? One day you're walking across the stage grabbing your diploma, on top of the world, with big dreams and your whole life ahead of you. A couple days later you wake up and suddenly you have arthritis, bursitis, tendinitis, fasciaitis, reflux, receding hair line, cellulite, can't see too well, can't move too well, can't hear too well, can't remember too well, etc., etc., etc.

We're the last of the Baby Boomers. And I think we are the last generation to remember life before cable TV, computers, cell phones, and rap. We remember Blackwater as a song instead of a mercenary army or an oil spill. We remember the original Sesame Street gang, Reagan telling Gorbachev to tear down the wall, Lennon getting shot, and knowing that every Friday night Another One Bites The Dust.

Seriously, though, congratulations on the past 30 years. If you've made it this far you deserve to pause and have a little Celebration of your journey and all you've accomplished and all you've learned. You know, as great as we thought things were in 1981, I've learned that right now, these really are The Best Of Times, watching my kids grow and experiencing God's grace as my mind and body start going downhill. I've learned that love really is More Than A Feeling. I've also learned that there is no Stairway to Heaven, but There Is A Savior.

Take a few moments then, to simply be Still and enjoy this milestone. But, don't waste much time on that. You see, life really is just Dust In The Wind that flies by, and the next thirty years looms ahead. So whether you are an Urban Cowboy, Just A Good Old Boy, a Dancing Queen, a Desperado, or a Renegade, buckle up and Carry On My Wayward Son. Don't Bring Me Down by giving up, get back On The Road Again.

And as you travel through this Grand Illusion, learn from the past and things that happened All Those Years Ago, but don't cling to it. Dream On for a better future, but make the most of this moment--no regrets today.

This probably wasn't exactly your Rock 'N Roll Fantasy, or even a trip through Boogie Wonderland; but hopefully it brought back some good memories. Its shown me that clearly, I have Too Much Time On My Hands.

Congratulations class of 1981 on the 30th anniversary of your parole, i.e., high school graduation.