On the Side| Brad Hicks

For those of you attending the Red Oak High School graduation Sunday afternoon, I’ll be the guy intruding on all facets of the ceremony, shooting photos of speakers, graduates receiving diplomas, people crying, people cheering, people marching, singers singing, and band members playing. Plunging waist deep into a graduation photo spread has become old hat for a newspaper guy, but sort of strange, too, in that I almost missed my entire high school graduation.

Commencement was on a Friday evening at 7. I was the lone senior on the team playing in the district golf tournament in Atlantic, starting at noon. It was more than a 90-minute bus ride. You can do the math – four-plus hours of golf, time figuring out winners and losers, then a bus ride home...

We arrived in Jefferson at 7:05. I hopped in the 1963 Chevy pickup my dad bought for me to drive, went home, showered (it was a very hot day), and then drove the five blocks to the junior high gym, which meant I drove three and walked two. It was 7:30 when I walked in the back door and was greeted by the graduation sponsor. Rather than make a scene by walking into the gym, I stayed in the outside hall. As my classmates lined up to get their diplomas, they had to go through a doorway to get to the stage. I waited there, magically appeared in my right place in line, got the paper, and proceeded to my previously unoccupied chair. My family didn’t know I made it until I hit the stage.

I can’t say I regret missing most of my graduation. In fact, I skipped my college graduation to go on a golf trip with my dad. Despite my lack of enthusiasm for Pomp and Circumstance, I know it is important to a lot of other people. So, I’ll see you there Sunday. Hopefully, on time.