Is graduation a gradual thing?

In response to last week’s question, "Is graduation a gradual thing?," my friend Tracey recalled, "Yes it is and quite often painful!"  My neighbor Al provided an example although not necessarily what Tracey was referring to when he wrote, "When you are sitting in a 90-degree football stadium, from the top row, listening to some pompous speaker, it sure seems gradual."  

My birthday bud Jon observed, "It depends on your grades" while my recruiting friend Jason reminisced, "Graduation is a sudden event with a goodly amount of foreplay and a sh-ton of memories and embellishments."

My dad's beach buddy Bob  counseled, "It is toward a never to be achieved goal."

And my fascinating friend Bruce summarized, "Hmmm... Kindergarten, Elementary, Junior High, High School, and MA at Juilliard were easy.  For the second MA at USC (chemical engineering), the going was tougher (supporting a family and a career)  so - steep... And now that I'm retired, I'm almost done with PhD from Manchester (astrophysics) - very steep...  Wondering do I want to bother finishing, just so someone has to call me Doctor?     The answer is: Gradual...  I think the older we are, the tougher the climb."

Please send me your thoughts about this week's "things that make you go 'Hmmm' “:

         How bad can it be if it's clear?   from my collaboration friend Mary

 We don't stop laughing because we get old. We get old because we stop laughing.  Make it a priority to have fun and make others laugh.

Hal

Please take a moment to remember all of those who have given their lives for our country so that we may be free.  While the US Congress is a mess, we are free to criticize and elect other representatives --- and for that is just one of the things thank the families of those who died in our military, reserves and law enforcement protecting our democracy.

Thanks to Demetri Martin, Steven Wright and George Carlin for the inspiration for Hmmm.  Stop by NicheLabs to see what else I'm up to.