I REALLY hope I didn’t MISS my coming-of-age…

I Dated Captain Ron for Three Years

     The definition of coming-of-age is : a young person’s transition from childhood to adulthood.  I was thinking about it this morning, because my friend Dee’s son Jake graduated from high school yesterday.   On the same day, my buddy LCDR Andy Payne, retired from the Navy. 

     There are certain times when it is OBVIOUS one should think about the future, and reflect upon the achievements of the past.  Those times are usually marked by ceremonies, speeches, the gathering of family and friends and the obligatory wearing of silly hats.   With apologies to Merriam Webster, I think those moments are coming-of-age moments, and that everyone gets more than one in a lifetime.  You don’t have to be a kid discovering you have PUBES for the first time to qualify.

     I’d like to propose a toast (with gassy water and cranberry juice in a wine glass) to those BIG MOMENTS.  And another to the smaller moments: the unmarked, mini-achievements in our coming-of-age that truly define us.  Have you noticed. the Salutatorian’s speech is always more entertaining than the Valedictorian’s?  I think it’s because they’ve already learned that life is not always WIN-WIN.  That humor and humility are key, when marching purposely forward to true adulthood. 

     I have a SUGAR HANGOVER today, by the way, from way too much of Jake’s “Congratulations!” cookie cake.  I need to think about giving up processed sugar.  And PLASTICS…

I’m not drinking today because: I don’t want to miss my coming-of-age!

How come you’re not drinking?