Charm on the Fly

A big day in 5th grade today! D.A.R.E. graduation. The first real "graduation" like milestone these kids have achieved. There was a certain excitement in the air as these 10 and 11 year old kids were ready to declare that they will never touch cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs in their life. They also promised never to pick on and bully their peers. So basically, for most, today was the day innocent children begin to tell lies.

"I will never do alcohol." Very few people can live up to a statement like that, although nearly all the children vowed to it. One child was a little more accurate when she said, "I will never drink too much alcohol." Too much alcohol for what? Too much alcohol to throw up? Too much alcohol to end up in an unfamiliar place in the morning? Or, too much alcohol to poison yourself? She will find out sooner or later. Hopefully later, but eventually, as we all did.

After the students vowed to be mormons for the rest of their lives, it was time to get their diplomas. I specifically asked last week if I needed to give a speech at this graduation event. And, I was specifically told I did not. I was happy about that. I can write a decent speech, in fact I'd love to write one for a politician, but my delivery is weak as soon as more than 30 people are in a room over the age of 12. The whole picturing them naked doesn't work. Especially when we are talking about half an audience filled with minors. I could be arrested just for the thought!

To my dismay, the fifth grade teacher who presented her students with their diplomas first, in fact, gave a speech. Awesome! Now I would look like a jerk if I didn't give a speech. With t-minus five minutes to prepare, I decided to just go up and wing-it. Really, just let my charm take over, since I have so much of it. Lacking charm, I winged it just fine, minus the one time my voice cracked. In fact, I may have pulled off a better speech than I could have written. Ehhh, probably not. But much shorter and sweeter!

Jeff is a good public speaker. Actually, he is an excellent public speaker. If he decided to take up politics on the side, I would write some good speeches for him to deliver. And boy, would he deliver!

D.A.R.E. - dare to be drug free!