i want a cool rider...

I went to a high school graduation on the weekend. They are never riveting unless you are in fact the one graduating BUT it was interesting just to see how the Americans do it.

Let me set the scene.

Total chaos. There were superb black ladies in white hats dressed for New Orleans Sundays and men so crisp in their red, oversized, jazz clubs suits. Shiny shoes an' all. And the rest it seemed had only just remembered to lace their sneakers. Some credit though for the whiteness of their shoes.

And a procession of bag pipes. They love to think that they are Scottish and Irish over here. I understand that they can lay claim but it amazes me how we turned out. And how they turned out. And a ripple of whispers, 'Do we stand up?' So the room resembled a graveyard. Some tombstones toppled, others half up, half down - 'Oh I just don't know', some standing tall because they knew the national anthem was coming soon.

The most amazing aspect of Americans to me is the fact that - rite of passage or not - most occasions are an open invitation to talk amongst yourselves.

And 1500 people involved in a low murmur is kinda like living inside a substation. Excellent atmosphere for a graduation. And even greater fodder was the fact that the family behind us had brought their two year old. Don't know how to entertain your two year old during a graduation? Bring a portable television! Cartoons are great for keeping them quiet! I am not kidding. Then the kid vomited. Motion sickness?

The talk worked both ways. We had speeches after speeches. And this is not particular to America but high school speeches love a good metaphor. We had the growth of independence and experience from K-12 compared to the evolution of school lunches. We had the importance of failure in success as exemplified by Thomas Edison. We also had Richard Rogers of Rogers and Hammerstein fame thrown in as the graduation was being held on his birthday. This was a good giggle as we had had positive affirmation after 'live your dreams' after 'reach for the stars' and yet this particular speaker decided to conclude with 'Now, none of you will turn out to be Richard Rogers but...'

And then for diploma time. Parents ran to the front of the stage so as to make sure they got the best shots. We were now at a concert with the mosh pit and the whoops and the woo hoos and the screaming and the 'right on, Tahnee' and 'we love you, Kelsi'. American names are excellent. Storm, Shawn, Kiara, Kayleigh. I have been introduced to a Chantelle and then heard, 'Ooo, it is so French.'

So that is about it. We did have one pin-up for a drug overdose at 25. Patrick.
All American baby face.
Captain of the football team.
Head of the Track team.
Outstanding Athlete of the State award.
Top of French, Maths, Science, Social Studies.
Valedictorian. Voice of an angel.
An OD or gay.
But he had so much potential...