Graduation
May 16, 2002

I would like to thank everyone for coming. Each of you has had a major impact in the lives of our guests of honor. I know each of you shares in our pride at the girls' achievements.

As I fought from ending up like a blithering idiot as the graduation proceeded, Carolyn wondered what I would be like at the weddings. And you know what, I don't think I really care about the weddings, because that's THEIR business.

For me, this is the momentous day.

This is the day that these girls are officially on their own. This is the day that, as people, as individuals, as kick-ass girls, these two take the final step into their own lives. This is the day that is the culmination of all of our hard work to grow them, to nurture them, and to guide them in the path of right living. And this is the day that they graduate from being girls.

I sat down to come up with witty remembrances of times past -- things like Bec's instructions on how to properly close a glass door (with your foot, preferably) or Liz's example of how to carve a pumpkin. But I found myself overwhelmed with such a tremendous rush of thoughts and emotions that few individual memories were able to stand out.

This is such a bittersweet day for me. It's not that I don't want this day to come, it's just that I don't want this day to come. It's not that I don't want them to grow up, it's that I don't want them to grow up. It's not that I can't see a wonderfully bright future, it's just that what we are leaving behind was so fulfilling it seems a shame that it has to pass.

Rather than prattling on like a dottering old fart, let's get to the toast.

First, though, let me make some things clear.

One. The way you have taken responsibility for your lives is exemplar. You know how to work, you know how to play, and you know how to do them both with your own kind of grace and style. Two. Your accomplishments in school have been awesome. Sure we played our little approval games, but you guys slamdunked me every time. Three. Your caring and your heart is inspiring. Yes, you both can be giant pains in the ass, but you aren't mean, you aren't spiteful, and you aren't nasty. In short, you have both exceed my wildest expectations. You both have gone places that I could only imagine and hope you would go.

So, I would like to raise a toast to the two Satterlee women.