One Garage Sale

When my son was a little boy, we often teased him that we got him from a garage sale. Of course we could have told him too that a stork delivered him to our front door, but we like pragmatism rather than fairy-tale. As he grew up, that became a perpetual joke in our family circle.

Fast forward to more than 20 years later, this “little boy” just now finished college with a major in Biochemistry. During the commencement ceremony, each graduate was asked to write a sentence or two that they would like to be read as they come up and walk across the stage as they are being recognized for their achievement.

There are 3 themes that they can write:

1. What will be their next endeavor after graduation?
2. What were their favorite memories while studying in the university?
3. Who do they want to thank for their accomplishment.

Some graduates wrote that they will be taking up a Masters degree or a PhD, and some specified the “dream” job that they will be starting after graduation. So my son could have perfectly stated that he will be entering medical school in a university in California as he has been accepted there and that’s actually what he will be doing. But that’s not what he wanted to be broadcasted.

He could have said that one of his favorite memories was watching the sunrise from his dormitory, as we know he is a morning person and he could see the sunrise over a wide football field from his dorm, at least for the first 2 years of his college life. Or maybe his favorite memory was skateboarding in the vast university campus as he did, going from one class to the next, as he rather do that than ride the in-campus bus. But that was not he wanted to be announced either.

Lastly, he could have thanked a compassionate professor/s which some graduates did, that have changed the trajectory of their life. Or maybe he would like to thank his parents which many of the graduates did, saying that they lovingly supported them through thick and thin, which I believe most mothers and fathers wanted to hear in a graduation ceremony. And that was what he did, but with a twist.

When my son’s name was called, and he walked up to the stage, here’s what was announced for all the graduates, professors, families and guests (yes, hundreds of people) to hear: “I am thankful for my parents for bringing me home from that one garage sale.”

I guess the joke is on us.

You may be wondering, do we take life seriously in this family? We do, sometimes. Serious enough that my son graduated summa cum laude. And the whole coliseum that day knew that.