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Ladies and gentlemen of the class of '97

"WEAR SUNSCREEN!"

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, "sunscreen" would be it.

The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists,

whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience.

I will dispense this advice NOW!

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth.

Oh, never mind.

You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded.

But trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked.

You are not as fat as you imagine.

Don't worry about the future.

Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum.

The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind,

The kind that blindside you at 4 pm on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing every day that scares you.

Sing

Don't be reckless with other people's hearts.

Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Floss

Don't waste your time on jealousy.

Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind.

The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself.

Remember compliments you receive.

Forget the insults.

If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters.

Throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch

Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life.

The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives.

Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don't.

Get plenty of calcium.

Be kind to your knees.

You'll miss them when they're gone.

Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't.

Maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't.

Maybe you'll divorce at 40.

Maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary.

Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much,

or berate yourself either.

Your choices are half chance.

So are everybody else's.

Enjoy your body.

Use it every way you can.

Don't be afraid of it or of what other people think of it.

It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own.

Dance

Even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room.

Read the directions, even if you don't follow them.

Do not read beauty magazines.

They will only make you feel ugly.

"Brother and sister together we'll make it through,

Someday a spirit will take you and guide you there

I know that you're hurting but I've been waiting there for you

and I'll be there just helping you out

whenever I can..."

Get to know your parents.

You never know when they'll be gone for good.

Be nice to your siblings.

They're your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go,

but with a precious few you should hold on.

Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get,

the more you need the people who knew you when you were young.

Live in "New York City" once, but leave before it makes you hard.

Live in "Northern California" once, but leave before it makes you soft.

Travel

Accept certain inalienable truths:

Prices will rise.

Politicians will philander.

You, too, will get old.

And when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young,

prices were reasonable, politicians were noble, and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don't expect anyone else to support you.

Maybe you have a trust fund.

Maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse.

But you never know when either one might run out.

Don't mess too much with your hair or by the time you're 40 it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy,

but be patient with those who supply it.

Advice is a form of nostalgia.

Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal,

wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen.

"Brother and sister together we'll make it through,

Someday a spirit will take you and guide you there

I know that you're hurting but I've been waiting there for you

and I'll be there just helping you out

whenever I can..."

Everybody's Free, Everybody's Free

To Feel Good!

You know I keep trying to forget my class reunion is this year and little things like this or running into someone I haven't seen since High school keep popping up. I think its a sign that I need to go to it.

Loans are good just watch out for interest. That's where they get you.

Yeah, well, I'm willing to be in debt the rest of my life if I can go to school without looking over my shoulder at my dwindling bank account.

I don't think when it comes time for our reunion I'll be making any appearances....I liked highschool but I just don't want to see any of the folks from there.

I don't think when it comes time for our reunion I'll be making any appearances....I liked highschool but I just don't want to see any of the folks from there.

I have no interest in going to my high school reunion. The people I want to see I already do. Everyone else can go f**k themselves.

I have no interest in going to my high school reunion. The people I want to see I already do. Everyone else can go f**k themselves.

Shawn, you are definitely a man that knows exactly the right way to say things, and I agree !

Shawn, you are definitely a man that knows exactly the right way to say things, and I agree !

Great minds think alike my dear.

I have no interest in going to my high school reunion. The people I want to see I already do. Everyone else can go f**k themselves.

I've seen all the people I want to see as well. I see a lot in town and where I work. I heard the last reunion was full of pure drinks....major hangovers...and hookups...LOL. And they charged way too much...LOL.

Its hilarious when I used to go home for Christmas or Thanksgiving and would see all my high school people out and about at the bars. They all pretended that they never made my life hell during that time and that we were good friends.

I quite literally told people to get the hell away from me. I said that "if you didn't like me then, you sure as hell don't like me now. So get lost."

I have no interest in going to my high school reunion. The people I want to see I already do. Everyone else can go f**k themselves.

Amen to that, my brother.

Its hilarious when I used to go home for Christmas or Thanksgiving and would see all my high school people out and about at the bars. They all pretended that they never made my life hell during that time and that we were good friends.

I quite literally told people to get the hell away from me. I said that "if you didn't like me then, you sure as hell don't like me now. So get lost."

LOL.....One former classmate works with me. She said I was in the "IN" group. I told her what!?...LOL She was like yes you were. I said well you never talked to me. She said I was too afraid too....LOL

Its hilarious when I used to go home for Christmas or Thanksgiving and would see all my high school people out and about at the bars. They all pretended that they never made my life hell during that time and that we were good friends.

I quite literally told people to get the hell away from me. I said that "if you didn't like me then, you sure as hell don't like me now. So get lost."

I know exactly what you mean. I wasn't part of any sort of crowd. I drifted from one group to another and so I never really had any real lasting friends in High School except for a girl who I have known since Kindergarten. And then I see all these people and they are like "Hi how are you? Call me" and I am like um the phone works both ways.

I know exactly what you mean. I wasn't part of any sort of crowd. I drifted from one group to another and so I never really had any real lasting friends in High School except for a girl who I have known since Kindergarten. And then I see all these people and they are like "Hi how are you? Call me" and I am like um the phone works both ways.

I totally laugh when I look at what the "in crowd" looks like now.

They all peaked in high school.

So sad.

And it's funny that folks that go to the renunions are going so they can see exactly how their enemies turned out.. just so they can go back and trash them like they did when they were little snots back in highschool...No thank you to that drama...I can do quite fine without having to see folks that stuck their little noses up at me;

Umbrella by Rihanna

You have my heart

And we'll never be worlds apart

May be in magazines

But you'll still be my star

Baby cause in the dark

You can't see shiny cars

And that's when you need me there

With you I'll always share

Because

[Chorus]

When the sun shines, we’ll shine together

Told you I'll be here forever

Said I'll always be a friend

Took an oath I'ma stick it out till the end

Now that it's raining more than ever

Know that we'll still have each other

You can stand under my umbrella

You can stand under my umbrella

(Ella ella eh eh eh)

Under my umbrella

(Ella ella eh eh eh)

Under my umbrella

(Ella ella eh eh eh)

Under my umbrella

(Ella ella eh eh eh eh eh eh)

These fancy things, will never come in between

You're part of my entity, here for Infinity

When the war has took it's part

When the world has dealt it's cards

If the hand is hard, together we'll mend your heart

Because

[Chorus]

When the sun shines, we’ll shine together

Told you I'll be here forever

Said I'll always be a friend

Took an oath I'ma stick it out till the end

Now that it's raining more than ever

Know that we'll still have each other

You can stand under my umbrella

You can stand under my umbrella

(Ella ella eh eh eh)

Under my umbrella

(Ella ella eh eh eh)

Under my umbrella

(Ella ella eh eh eh)

Under my umbrella

(Ella ella eh eh eh eh eh eh)

You can run into my arms

It's okay don't be alarmed

Come into me

There's no distance in between our love

So go on and let the rain pour

I'll be all you need and more

Because

[Chorus]

When the sun shines, we’ll shine together

Told you I'll be here forever

Said I'll always be a friend

Took an oath I'ma stick it out till the end

Now that it's raining more than ever

Know that we'll still have each other

You can stand under my umbrella

You can stand under my umbrella

(Ella ella eh eh eh)

Under my umbrella

(Ella ella eh eh eh)

Under my umbrella

(Ella ella eh eh eh)

Under my umbrella

(Ella ella eh eh eh eh eh eh)

It's raining

Ooh baby it's raining

Baby come into me

Come into me

It's raining

Oh baby it's raining

I used to hate that song, but right now it is helping