CURMUDGEON’S CORNER- CEREMONIES AND “MILESTONES”

CURMUDGEON’S CORNER- CEREMONIES AND “MILESTONES”

I don’t much care for ceremonies! I didn’t even go to my own graduation from high school. I thought then and still do think that all that cap and gown stuff is nonsense. I’d like to know how some of this stuff came to be in the first place, if only so that I’d know who to blame! My dad, who likes to get dressed up- or at least doesn’t mind it- could not understand why I didn’t care to go. He told me at the time that the ceremony would make me remember and appreciate what a milestone high school graduation is. I told him that I could remember and appreciate it just fine without twiddling with some little tassle thing that would only irritate me all through the ceremony anyway. I still do remember getting through school- it was a great relief to me. I never considered my high school years to be one of the better times of my life anyway. For that same reason I have never gone to any of my high school reunions, either. All I will say about the importance of having the diploma is that it is much better than NOT having one. But it is just a step along the way through life as far as I am concerned. Continuing to learn throughout your life is FAR more important than any diploma or degree, high school, college, grad school, or whatever. (Too many college grads seem to have the idea that they know it all and don’t need to learn any more, which makes them less educated in my eyes, not more!)
Weddings and funerals are 2 more ceremonies I think are overdone and overrated. If I find out that my survivors did anything more than have a nice party and remember me casually (NO NECKTIES ALLOWED!!!), I’ll come back and haunt them! Of course, I intend to outlive ‘em all anyway! As to weddings, well I have developed a theory that the larger and fancier the event, the less likely that the union will last. K.I.S.S.-keep It Simple Stupid- is a mantra I try to live by and believe in wholeheartedly! A couple I knew many years ago lived together quite well for 3 years before their parents finally badgered them into getting formally married. After the (large, involved, catholic church) wedding they were apart and at each other’s throats in 3 months.
I have been involved in 2 weddings in my life where I had to get dressed up in a tuxedo as part of the wedding party. Neither of those couples are married today! Some of you will be thinking “that’s probably because of your negative vibes”, but you’d be wrong. I never let any of this show at those weddings, and in fact hadn’t thought about this that much at the times of them! It may have been vibes from my dislike (even loathing) of having to wear a tuxedo (a device that I’m sure must have been designed by a woman who absolutely hated men or by a man as queer as a 3 dollar bill), and also having to pay for the “privilege”.
So enough of the ranting, you say? What brought this all on anyway? Isn’t this blog supposed to be about tractors and trucks and machinery I’ve known and loved? Well you’re right on all counts, but the header does say something about an occasional opinion or 2. (Okay, it says thought, not opinion, but then an opinion IS a thought) And it so happens that I have very recently been invited to a wedding that I was very happy to agree to attend. It will be a small, informal affair and the couple are two of my very favorite young folks who I think are doing the right thing the right way!
Here’s to Amanda and Nathaniel! May you have a happy marriage and a great life together! And thanks for keeping it simple!!!