Walk down memory lane

Listened to just a portion of President Trump’s speech at the University of Arkansas last week. It was so relevant and timely for those graduates to hear. And their response, and the response of those attending, was overwhelmingly positive.

Can’t help but wonder how many of those 6,000 or so young men and women will remember it 10 years from now.   

How many adults today can look back 10, 20, 30 or even more years and remember who even spoke at their graduations, let alone remember what they said?  

I have a good memory, but it doesn’t go back to 1952 (sometimes it doesn’t go back to last week). I can remember singing in the Triple Trio about “The halls of ivy....”   

However, I can remember several valedictorian’s speeches  I have heard down through the years. One I clearly remember was given by Dave Grabbert. Don’t remember the entire speech, but remember his last words: “I’m not what I ought to be; I’m not what I want to  be, but I ain’t what I used to be.” 

And I remember teacher Jerry Fulmer focusing on the old Grandfather Clock that stood so long  on the shelf, counting every second of every minute of every day the pendulum went back and forth until finally, it got so tired “it collapsed short, never to ring again...”

Can’t remember how he related that to the class, but I do know the clock was done for.

So to  Aleksey and Fatima, this year’s “best of the best” in the senior class, my advice is just speak from the heart, be sincere and make it short.