Why I Miss Bill Clinton (and other thoughts):

This Friday afternoon, my father will stride across the stage at Northrup Auditorium to be congratulated on finishing his doctorate in education (EdD). Although the old man still has to defend his dissertation, he is near enough to doing so that he is participating in the ceremony this Fall.

I'm pretty damn proud of my pops. While I was an undergrad myself, my father pusued and completed (six months before I did) his bachelors degree. Then, while still teaching auto mechanics full-time at Dunwoody, went on to obtain his masters. Now, after several years in pursuit of his EdD, despite my mother's several bouts with cancer, continuing to work full-time at the U, adding two grandchildren, and intense involement in church and community service, he is very nearly done with a very crowning achievement. I should know, after all, that they don't give out doctoral degrees for free.

Having the old man as a college student, sometimes overlapping with my own (perhaps more in line with age norms) pursuit of higher education, has given me a deep respect for non-traditional students. Such folks choose to pursue college degrees and even make major career changes at a time in life when this is not typically done, and therefore sometimes invite significant risks in leaving long-held jobs and well-established careers. My dad is seven years away from Social Security and Medicaid, yet he is hoping/planning to embark on a second career, still as an educator, but at a different level and from another vantage point.

So, I'll be at Northrup this Friday at 1:00 beaming pride and maybe shedding a few tears. Oh, and clapping wildly, perhaps defying the "hold your applause until the end" rule. Screw that, it's my dad up there!