Today is Graduation Day in our family. My son Matt, the most persistent young man I have known, graduates with two degrees, one in art.
He has climbed more mountains than Sir Edmund Hillary, and that is integral to what separates Matt from the majority of graduates.
The envied owner of a quiet, introspective, self-effacing, agreeable, adaptable personality, Matt probably could make peace between Hillary and Trump, between Hillary and Bernie.
Let us say that he grew up in a home with a difficult environment. I leave details to one’s imagination – especially if you are familiar with Frankenstein films.
Credit for Matt’s past and future achievements resides entirely within him, not his parents.
The day after high school graduation, Matt left home. He has been on his own ever since, carving an impressive path that would have been a splendid accomplishment with parental support, virtually a miracle with light representation. In their place, however, through two-way loyalty and devotion, he has won heroic grandparent backing, which has been a difference maker.
Undertaking uphill courses while working fulltime and engaging in a rounded social life, Matt has been a masterful self-disciplinarian.
While friends were traveling and playing, Matt, a creative pianist and drummer, committed to mandatory homework, always without complaint.
When Matt and his brothers were toddlers with vastly different personalities, I recall remarking that if I were driving cross country, I wanted Matt to be along, an ideal traveling companion.
If you were building the ultimate desirable son, I would nominate Matt to serve as your immensely modest model.
Mazel tov, Matt, and I love you.
