My turn: Graduation unusual tradition

We humans have some unusual traditions, not the least of which takes place each year about this time.

We gather together our young who have reached a certain age and declare them to be properly educated. We polish them up, and clothe them in matching billowing robes. Each fact-filled head is topped with a coordinating beanie sewn to a cloth-covered square of cardboard. For a nice finishing touch, a tassel dangles from the top, exactly long enough to tickle freshly-scrubbed chins.

We line up these bright-eyed, strangely-clad chatterers, and plant them on rows of folding chairs in front of an adoring audience packed into a gymnasium/auditorium/stadium.

A speaker (or two or three) solemnly reminds the reluctant listeners that the future is in their hands, and that as they set out on this journey called life they should reach for the stars (extra-challenging when your hands are busy holding the future), make good choices and never forget to floss.

Once they've endured those interminable admonitions, they are rewarded with a scroll of paper and a handshake or two before they are given the okay to toss those bizarre tasseled hats high into the air.

And we grownups? We sit and watch and smile through tears. Every single time.

Betty Williamson loves traditions, even though she is often puzzled by them. You may reach her at [email protected].