Congratulations on graduating from Scarborough High School. And turning l8. Wow!

Soon, you leave for college. I know you don’t want any advice from me. And you certainly don’t want any criticism (!).

To try to honor your wishes, but also satisfy my “Dad need “to make a big deal out of everything here are – Five Things I Probably Owe You An Apology For; and Five Things I Hope You Don’t Trip Up On Like I Did.

MY APOLOGIES

I’m sorry I went to the bus stop with you every day, through, I think middle school. I am sorry I always made you come home on Saturday nights at 10 p.m. until age 15. I am sorry I always asked you where you were going, who you were going with. Just trying to keep you alive;

I’m sorry I batted you last, and started you in right field in Kindergarten T-Ball. I told you, “If I don’t, the parents will all hate me, and your teammates will all hate you.” I know that’s not what a 5-year-old wants to hear!

I am sorry we didn’t buy you a car when you got your driver’s license. Many other kids got such presents from mom and dad. I was just trying to teach you – “want it/earn it;”

I am sorry we didn’t give you dessert every night after supper K-8. In our town, so many parents and others were giving you and your buddies sweets all day long for various purposes. I didn’t want to keep five dentists busy on you;

I’m sorry on that Florida trip to Spring Training as a 4-year-old, Amtrak sleeper train out of NYC, I had you sit and write your name, the alphabet, your address, and the name of your town, street, and state over and over again from North Carolina to Winter Park, Fla. I thought it would help your SAT scores some day;

GOOD LUCK AND GO GET ’EM

I thought I could come to college years ago, give up sports and exercise, and eat all the pancakes and whoopee pies they had to offer in the dining hall. Wrong.

I didn’t think it was “cool” for an l8-year-old college freshman to be getting letters from his Mommy. I threw mine all away.

I turned down an invitation from a kid to spend the weekend at his parents ‘ house in Manhattan – I had to study. I said no a 200-mile skimobile trip across northern Maine – too cold. I did not play golf with the University President, and his four VPs one day when student leaders were invited that would be a “sell out.” Stupid, stupid, stupid;

There were several women at fraternity parties who were friendly, but I didn’t….oh, never mind…. ;

I didn’t take certain upper level Economics courses – too difficult. I didn’t sign up for an English “tutorial” that Stephen King was teaching – he might make fun of me. I didn’t eat dishes featuring scallops – ew!

I now realize college might not be the ONLY place to try things, but it is often the best place.

Thanks for the ride 1-18, Sam. Flap your wings. Fly, baby.

Love,

Dad

Dan Warren is a trial lawyer in Scarborough. He can be reached through private Facebook message at Jones & Warren Attorneys at Law page, or by email at jonesandwarren@gmail.com.