A Good Deed

I am so thankful that I was able to get my yearly good deed out of the way. It's such a relief to go back to being me. Fortunately it was not too bad an experience. Here's how it went down:

I awoke Saturday morning knowing that I had to go to graduation. I realize that it is February and most regular schools don't graduate until May or December. This is not a regular school. This is Sanford Brown Business college. A client from my practice was graduating and asked that I attend. I said yes, hence my good deed for the year.

I stood in front of my closet debating appropriate attire. I decided that jeans would be too casual and I should put forth a little more effort. It was graduation after all. Well, I could have worn my pajamas and been more appropriately dressed than the vast majority of the other members of the audience.

The fact that I was completely overdressed became apparent when I pulled into the convention center parking lot and shortly after me a LARGE camouflage painted truck pulled into the space next to me. Out came at least 8 people, dressed in what looked like their Sunday best. The driver had on his best NASCAR leather jacket and his clean jeans. One of the other men was wearing his clean coveralls. They looked at ME like I was the inappropriate one.

Once inside, I ducked into a seat for more people watching. Luckily I was not the only one who dressed up for the occasion, I did see a lot of women in sparkles. Sparkles on their purses, shoes and sweaters. Sparkly. The girl sitting in two seats next to me went all out too. Her BITE ME t-shirt looked brand new.

The ceremony began. We all stood to watch the graduates enter. I was expecting Lynard Skynard instead of Pomp and Circumstance, but I was disappointed. Then the WHOOPING began. It sounded like we were at a sporting event or a Garth Brooks concert rather than a graduation ceremony. Throughout this time I was having a battle within myself. The evil me was watching in disbelief and awe and the good side was thinking," These people are just so proud of their graduate. Not everyone graduates. They are trying to better themselves. Blah, Blah, Blah." The evil side won out.

After everyone settled into their seats, the Valedictorian gave her speech. Yes, they had a valedictorian. I listened carefully as she explained how Sanford Brown saved her, how she flunked out of four other colleges and couldn't get into community college when she found Sanford Brown. "GOOD THOUGHTS, GOOD THOUGHTS, GOOD THOUGHTS." I repeated to myself. They went through all the schools and finally my client graduated. I really am very proud of her.

After her branch graduated, I had two more branches to sit through. So, I decided that I could leave, get some coffee and come back. As I walked across the street, I noticed A LOT of people coming out of the convention center. Maybe there was a sanctioned smoke break. Nope, just a bunch of people who couldn't sit through another hour without a smoke. Maybe I wasn't so different.

Finally the ceremony was over and I found my client. I drifted through a sea of hoosiers and found her. She was beaming. She was very thankful that I had come. Seeing her there, finally proud of herself, I was thankful too. It gave me a warm sensation that I had not felt since last year. The sensation of a good deed.