Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Time for Joe

I just dont know what to do with myself. Really. I have too much time on my hands.

I finally graduated college after four years and a long list of obstacles and gifts that have jumped in my way.

I couldnt wait to be through with school. I did the math: I have spent 77 percent of my short-lived life in school. Now that Im out, I really dont know if I can handle it.

It never even occurred to me that graduate school may be an option. Heck, no, I would tell anyone who asked if I were going to get my masters degree. Ive been in school long enough.

But thats the thing. Im like a prisoner. I dont know what its like on the outside, nor do I know if I can adjust to not being in school anymore.

So as I sat during that boring ceremony called graduation, where the educated people wear goofy looking hats and robes, I thought, Gee. I think Id like to sit through another one of these, but wear a REALLY goofy-looking hat.

It's kind of like when Forrest Gump ran to the edge of Greenbow County and said, "I figured, since I run this far, maybe I'd just run across the great state of Alabama." And that's what he did. He ran clear across Alabama.

Ive made my decision. I have to go back to prison ... uh ... school.

Now, if I can only talk these scholars into wearing a normal looking hat during graduation.