“Eventually, we all face the same fate – old age (if we’re lucky!), sickness and death. No one gets a pass. Ordinarily these are truths that we like to keep tucked away in our subconscious. But the global pandemic is giving us a daily reminder of our collective fragility. Despite the truth of our ultimate fate, we have the gift of this present moment. Do we respond in fear? Or do we respond with compassion, courage and creativity, with the knowledge that we exist within a bigger picture than our individual selves? The choice is ours in every moment that we have.” ~ Marlon Hurst
This young man has spent the last 12 years working toward graduating from high school only to have the Corona Virus pandemic step in and squash traditional plans. So we improvised. This evening, AJ Watkins went to George Rogers Clark High School to accept his diploma, and the central Kentucky family went to his house to decorate in secret. Then, at the appointed time, a line of Terry cars, horns blaring, ushered AJ through his neighborhood to his house where I stood waiting, camera in hand, mask on. I think he was both pleased and surprised to find us cheering him on. I have been feeling so bad for these kids who have worked their whole lives for this moment. They can’t be with their friends. They can’t get too close to their family. No party. No dance. Their schooling just sort of fades away with a whimper. And while I realize that for most of them their best days are yet to come, the fact remains that this is a marquee moment in most American’s lives. Surviving the haranguing of middle school alone deserves to be celebrated. Alas, the class of 2020 will just have to find other ways, other times to be joyous in a crowd. Nevertheless, AJ took it in stride, made a few jokes, and now he’s looking to the next phase of his life. I’ve loved this kid from the moment I saw him 18 years ago. I couldn’t be prouder of him. He’s the bee’s knees.
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