The Tassel Tradition

I am a traditionalist. I love classic clothes, classic homes. I love pen in hand and beautiful note paper as opposed to the keyboards and e-mails of today's writers. I suppose I am a throw back of sorts. I love the graduations of spring, ceremonies always seeped in the traditions of decades. From the music to the march to the tassels, I love it. And so I looked forward to this year of 'graduation' ceremonies as Kate finished middle school and Drew elementary.

First on our busy Graduation Tuesday itinerary was Drew's primary school graduation. I proudly attended the early morning ceremony. Sitting between Daddy and Adrian, I eagerly awaited the pageantry. Yes, even for 11 year olds I never imagined that I shouldn't expect graduation tradition. As the principal asked attendees to stand and honor the graduates, I steadied myself for the always emotional but especially so when one of your own is pro- or re-cessing Pomp and Circumstance. As the doors swung open and the 5th grade processional began, I stood a little straigher, head held a little higher and thought.... and thought.....what is that music? Is it....surely it isn't.....but it is Fame. You know, " Fame! I'm gonna live forever; I'm gonna learn how to shine. I'll catch the moon in my hands. Baby, remember my name......Fame." I suppose on some level it was inspiring and probably far more familiar to these fifth grade fledglings, but where was my pomp...my circumstance....my tradition?

Same day, now evening. As we drove to Kate's graduation ceremony, she excitedly announced, "Mommy, you know that Tim McGraw song you like so much? That is what they are playing as we enter the gym." Kate, surely you don't mean, "Live Like You Are Dying? "That's it...that's it, Mommy! I knew you liked it." Like it, I do, I love it....but where is my Pomp and Circumstance? Even for middle school, I should think a processional just isn't a processional without "P and C."

All week as we celebrated both Kate's and Drew's accomplishments, I had this nagging feeling. Something just wasn't as it should be. Something was amiss. Something had changed. One of life's most recognizable rites of passage had seemed a little....well....unrecognizable.

As Friday evening, the end of the work week, school week, and in this case school year arrived, I sat outside enjoying the beautiful late spring early summer night. I thought back, considering the oddities of this season of graduations. Suddenly, I heard it.....faint at first.....then building.....building with the growing breezes as a summer shower approached. There it was, rising above first bleachers, then homes, then trees.....Pomp and Circumstance emanated softly but clearly from the local high school football stadium as graduation began. Here finally was my tradition, and with it that moment I had fought all week ...that first of quite a few tears as I thought of my son and my daughter and their own tradition of tassels to come.

Maybe it is just as well that this year, my Pomp and Circumstance came in the privacy of my own back yard.