It’s a big weekend ahead for high school and college students and their probably very relieved and proud parents. I know when I graduated it was one enormous check off my parents’ life list.
Woodstock Union High School graduation is tomorrow (Friday) evening.
Dartmouth College Commencement is Sunday morning.
That means you will absolutely need reservations everywhere if you’re planning on going out to eat. Also, you may detect a certain bedlam everywhere.
If you are not involved, as I am not, it’s probably a good idea to get your provisions in either this evening or tomorrow morning before another wild summer weekend breaks out. Make sure you have enough limes and gin and tonic mixers for 48 hours, ample coffee and cream in the larder, toilet paper, dog food and plenty of tanning lotion. The essentials. Plus, of course, a very good pair of undercover sunglasses. Get out early, say around 5am because you know what I say…the early bird gets the worm. Then stay IN.
I will be hunkered down with a promise to myself to NOT DRIVE ANYWHERE in the Upper Valley! In fact, I take this thought so seriously that I have offered my car to a couple from Juneau, Alaska who will be attending their daughter’s graduation at Dartmouth. Here, take it. I mean it. Would LOVE to have you drive my car. Please, please, spare me (and others) from the potential local-style road rage impatience of trying to drive Route 4 or the under-construction I-89/I-91 interchange with a few thousand extra lost people and their rental cars. Some of us will be trying to ignore the fact that kids, parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews and assorted academic hangers-on, including George Herbert Walker Bush, will be in town.
That’s right. George H.W. Bush, former President of the United States. In Hanover. At Dartmouth. I just got that info after taking a look at the Valley News editorial about Dartmouth professors protesting the conferring of an honorary degree on W’s Dad and realized, OMG, yet another reason to head for the hills! You know, because of Secret Service, crowds, etc. Also, because he went to Yale and this is Dartmouth and you know those Ivy Leaguer’s can get a bit intense in their rivalries. Hopefully “Senior”, will get in and get out and head back quickly to his golf game at Kennebunkport. I must say he’s exercised admirable restraint in allowing more recent Presidents to do their jobs without much, if any, Monday morning quarter-backing. Seems so quaintly old-school.
About all the weekend goings-on: Do I sound a tad disinterested and curmudgeonly? Perhaps a bit tongue in cheek. Have to remind myself we live in a lovely place and it’s so wonderful to be able to share it! I’ll probablyeven get all teary-eyed seeing my friends’ kids get their diplomas. Hearing those earnest words in their speeches about the always bright but challenging future. I can’t believe it! People my age with full-grown graduated kids? Because in my mind, I’m really still 25. Ha.
Have a great weekend and congratulations. Auntie Julia is proud of you all!
Julia Carlisle
Woodstock Early Bird 