Letters & Opinion
High Five: Some sagely advice
Columnist
Wow, is it the end of the semester already? So many of my new friends are graduating! I’m excited for all of you, but I can’t say I won’t miss your smiling faces! It’s also exciting to know that at the end of January, I’ll be gaining some new friends, too. It’s all part of the great academic circle of life.
Since I’m still going to be here and you are going out into the world, I’ve been trying to figure out how I can help you on your life journey and allow you to keep a piece of our friendship with you at all times. I’ve decided the best thing I can do is to give you some sagely advice before you are on your merry way. So here is the best advice I can dispense to you: Ticklishness is only a weakness if you let it be.
Oh, stifle your chortling! This is sound advice both literally and metaphorically. Think about it. How many times has one of your friends or family members discovered you were ticklish and held you down until you could stand the fits of laughter no more? How many times have you punched your tormentor in the face to make them cease their behavior? I think there are more tickling-related nose injuries than the medical community is letting on. Once you land that successful punch, though, you have gained control of the situation. Your ticklishness is no longer a weakness.
Let’s explore the metaphorical possibilities of this situation. It is inevitable, my friends, that life will hold you down and exploit your greatest weakness. It may not be a laughing matter, or perhaps you will be in spastic fits of ecstasy that quickly turn to discomfort and even rage, but when life holds you down and starts to playfully wiggle its fingers against the back of your knee, don’t fret. Don’t lose control. Just square up your fist, cock your arm back and yell, “Wolverines!” before landing that perfect punch in the face of life. Take control my friends and you will have the last laugh!
I wish I could give each of you either a big bear hug or a firm confident handshake on graduation day, but it’s just not feasible. If you happen to be on campus, feel free to ask for either and I’ll gladly oblige. Avra will even put down her Christmas knitting for a few moments to do likewise. We don’t want you to forget that you have friends here at little old UW-SP. Just don’t ask her to make you a scarf. She gets rather cranky.
The final contest winner for the semester is one of my very best graduating friends, Ms. Kelly McAvoy, who not only told me to buy a toboggan this winter but also to paint the Thundercats logo on the front! Congratulations Kelly! I can’t wait to see all of you out at the sledding hill over break!
Congratulations grads and happy holidays to one and all. See you next semester (or not)!
