Opinion : To the Class of 2020

To the Class of 2020:God, this has to suck; it just has to. I'll never forget when we studied Roman numerals in elementary school and figured out what our class year was in those (MCMLCXXV…look it up), we were obsessed with that year and all of the magic that would surround it. I'm not sure if you guys figured that out with Roman numerals (although MMXX is pretty badass if you get right down to it), but the magic part of your senior year has probably been on your minds for a long time and that's just natural. But now dates like April 28 and May 24 have about as much relevancy to your lives as tomorrow or a week from last Monday. God, this has to suck; it just has to.I only fully returned to subbing full time this year, so I barely got to know many of you; the class I know the best is next year's, Sage's class (you guys are all awesome too, but we'll get back to that). But those of you in this year's class I've gotten know I've learned are pretty amazing. You are the class born in the shadow of 9/11. You've lived through the 2008 flood, the 2011 derecho, the 2018 tornado, Game of Thrones and a billion Bachelor/Bachelorette seasons. You were all superheroes last September and you will be for eternity. If any class to ever go through this school system ever deserved their curtain call, it's you guys. You should have the biggest and best parties, fireworks and a really cool parade at the end of all of it. You should have a temporary reversion to 1970s sensibilities (look it up…teaching moment, trust me...). God this has to suck; it just has to.We boomers like to think we have all the answers…frankly, we think we're pretty smart and stuff. News flash: we don't; so thanks for coming up with "OK Boomer" because, seriously, we need to learn to shut up.So anyway, I'm thinking of all of the friends I have out there that have small businesses, who are servers, who are stylists, or those who do the kind of essential work that most of us would never dream of doing. To the members of the Class of MMXX (seriously, that is so cool), when all of this is over, when you come out on the other side, buy there, eat there, tip heavily, say thank you, and raise your kids (and all y'all are going to have amazing and very cute kids) to do the same. The hell with Walmart and Aldi; go to Henkle Creek and 5th Street and the RonDaVoo. Get your hair cut by Annie or Cathy or Tammy. Appreciate those who grant the things in life that you usually take for granted and raise generations to come who do the same.OK Boomer moment is over…let's move on…God this has to suck; it just does.And now to the Class of 2021 - and yeah, I get to talk to you this way since I've most of you since you were like 2 or something - your job for the next year and beyond is simple: Live up to the standard the class that preceded you set; it's that simple. Honor what they went through, honor what they lost, honor what they accomplished, and honor their spirit. Y'all got a seriously high bar to reach up now.Right before he died, singer/songwriter Warren Zevon was on David Letterman, talking about facing the end. When David asked him what he'd say to those who would be left behind, he answered, "Enjoy every sandwich."Class of '21, enjoy every sandwich; don't let any moment of the next year go by without appreciation of that moment. Don't miss a ballgame, don't miss a dance, don't miss a chance to tell a friend how much they mean to you. When hugs come back, hug each other, a lot, and don't afraid to do it every day. Don't be afraid of feelings and most of all, set a new standard - based on the one set before you - of caring and friendship that will last for generations.Most of this is aimed at Vinton-Shellsburg's seniors, but it's also for the seniors out there I have direct or indirect connections to. It's for Sage's cousin Caleb (and his special someone Mattie) and what they went through this year - trust me VS seniors, it was as hard as what you went through - and his other cousin Gabbi, who will you'll probably hear more about in the 2028 Olympics, if not sooner (trust me…it will be really cool) it's also for Ethan Weirather and for Carrie McNeal and for AJ Katcher, and for Lily Parrott. Rivalries aside, every Class of MMXX (I'm just going to stick with that) will forever be joined at the hip; high school or college you will be the group that 25, 50, 100 years from now, they will write about you, they will make movies about you, and they will honor you. And it's for superstars like Lillie and Carli and Sonnie and a lot of others who are out there fighting COVID-19 on the literal front lines. You are all stronger than any of us who came before and you've set a standard of service and courage for everyone who comes after.So back to you, Class of 2020…God this has to suck.I guess that's about it; Boomer has run out of stuff to say, other than this…What has happened is impossible to explain and impossible to understand. But at a time like this Class of 2020, lean on each other, hold each other tight, and don't ever be afraid to tell anyone you love them, because - believe me - they love you too.God this has to suck, it just does. But you know what? You'll all get through it, you'll be braver, stronger and better than you ever were before. And if so allowed, I'm proud of you all and everyone should be…and the link below is just my way of saying thank you.#MMXXStrong And finally...Click