"Wear Suncreen"

You may or may not have heard of the "Suncreen" song. I am writing the words down so I will always have them. Every word of this song really speaks to my heart and seems to be so true. I also have it on my playlist if you would like to listen. Enjoy!

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Class of 97'

Wear Suncreen

If I could offer you only one tip for the future suncreen would be it.. The long term benefits of suncreen 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 advise now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth;

Oh nevermind; you will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have 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're 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 bubblegum. 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 everyday 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 jealosy;

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

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

yourself.

Remember the 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 your 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 change, so are everyone else's. Enjoy your body, use it everyway you can....don't be afraid of it, or worry about what other people think of it, it's the greatest instrument you'll ever

own.

Dance....even if you have no where to do it but in your own living room. Read the directions even if you don't follow them.

Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly.

(Chorus)

Brothers and sisters together we'll make it through.

Someday your spirit will take you and guide you there. I know you've been hurting, and I know I've been wanting to be there for you.

And I'll be there, just tell me now, whenever I can.

Everybodys free.

Get to know your parents you never know when they'll be gone for

good.

Be nice to your siblings; they are the best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go, but for the 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 those you knew when

you where 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 to 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 have a wealthy spouse, but you never know when either one

might run out.

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

Be careful whose advice you buy, 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 this, wear suncreen.

(Chorus)