Wednesday, October 3, 2012

"THE DIPLOMA"........a bit of family history....

THIS IS ON OF THOSE CORNY STORIES OF MINE....
YOU KNOW THE KIND WHERE I TELL YOU TO GO TO
THE BATHROOM AND GET YOURSELF A
CUP OF COFFEE BEFORE STARTING TO READ
THE FOLLOWING.....
IT'S ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE
DIPLOMA....
AND YOU KNOW IT'S GOING TO HAVE A SENTIMENTAL
ENDING.....SO PLEASE.....READ ON...

THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF DIPLOMAS.....
LIKE THE ONES THAT HANG IN YOUR DOCTORS OFFICE
YOU HAVE TO ADMIT WHEN YOUR SITTING HALF DRESSED
ON THAT TABLE WHAT'S THE FIRST THING YOU LOOK FOR...
WHERE DID THE DOCTOR GO TO SCHOOL???
WHEN IT'S NOT A GOOD MEDICAL SCHOOL IT'S USUALLY
IN A CHEAP FRAME....
THE FANCIER THE RECOGNITION THE FANCIER THE FRAME...
OUR DOCTOR WAS MISSING HIS GEORGIA TECH DIPLOMA
THIS TIME....MAYBE IT'S HANGING IN A DIFFERENT
EXAM ROOM.....
HE'S A WONDERFUL DOCTOR....
NO NEED FOR HIM TO SHOW OFF...
THERE'S THE DOPEY JR. HIGH DIPLOMA....
KEPT IN A BOX OF OLD PICTURES...
IT PROVES I AT LEAST MADE IT THIS FAR....
I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE MY HIGH SCHOOL
DIPLOMA ENDED UP.....BUT IT CERTAINLY WASN'T
WORTHY OF A FRAME OF ANY KIND....CHEAP OR FANCY....

THEN YOU GET INTO THE UPPER ECHELON OF
DIPLOMAS.....
NOT JUST ANY COLLEGE DIPLOMA....
BUT THE "IVY LEAGUE" DIPLOMA...
FANCY FRAME....SUEDE MATTING...HANGING WITH
GREAT PRIDE IN THE BOSS' OFFICE...
DAUGHTER'S DIPLOMA...
BENEATH IT HANGS A "SORTA" DIPLOMA....
THE CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION TO THE BOSS
FROM THE DAUGHTER...
GIVEN TO HIM THE DAY SHE GRADUATED FROM
CORNELL UNIVERSITY
SHE KICKED IT UP A NOTCH A FEW YEARS LATER
WHEN SHE GOT A DIPLOMA FROM
LAW SCHOOL....
HITTING THE ULTIMATE HIGH POINT IN
THE DIPLOMA WORLD....
THE "DOCTOR OF LAW"
CUM LAUDE
ALSO DESERVED THE FANCY FRAME.....
THE SUEDE MAT...AND A SPECIAL SPOT IN THE
BOSS' OFFICE....
WHEN DAUGHTER GRADUATED YES....WE GOT TWO OF
EVERYTHING....
SO THEY NOT ONLY HANG IN OUR HOME BUT ALSO IN
DAUGHTER'S OFFICE...
WHO'S THIS GUY?????
AND WHAT DOES HE HAVE TO DO WITH A STORY ABOUT
DIPLOMAS....
IT WOULD BE MY FATHER.....
YOU MAY REMEMBER HIM AS "SIGGY"
FROM A PREVIOUS POST ON HIM AND MY MOTHER
MILLIE....
THIS IS ALL I HAVE LEFT TO REMEMBER SIGGY BY....
A PICTURE OF HIM FROM HIS DAYS AT THE ORPHANAGE WHERE
HE LIVED UNTIL HE WAS 18.....
A SILHOUETTE DONE ON THE BOARDWALK IN ATLANTIC CITY
IN THE EARLY 30'S...
AND A PENNY TIE TACK I MADE FOR HIM WHILE I WAS IN
KINDERGARTEN FOR FATHER'S DAY IN
1956.....
CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT I HAVE KEPT TRACK OF THIS GIFT
SINCE I WAS FIVE....
.....IT MEANS THAT MUCH TO ME...

AND THEN THE OTHER DAY WHILE CLEANING OUT THE OLD HOUSE
I RE-FOUND THIS.....
AND AMONG DIPLOMAS.....
THIS FALLS INTO THE
"PRICELESS" CATEGORY....
THE BIGGEST DIPLOMA YOU HAVE EVER SEEN....
I DON'T THINK PEOPLE WHO GRADUATE FROM
HARVARD
GET A DIPLOMA THIS LARGE.....
FROM THE SACRED HEART SCHOOL
IT MEASURES 20 X 18
FRAMED IT SITS 20 X28
IT LOOKS LIKE THE MAN GRADUATED FROM
MEDICAL SCHOOL.....
THE FIRST "LACKIE" TO RECEIVE A REAL
DIPLOMA IN THIS COUNTRY....
IT WAS JUNE OF 1929.....
WHEN SIGMUND ANDREW LACKIE
PROUDLY GRADUATED FROM
THE 8TH GRADE......
AND ALONG WITH THE PHOTO...THE SILHOUETTE AND THAT
FUNNY LITTLE TIE CLIP....
THIS PRICELESS DIPLOMA NOW HANGS IN A PROMINENT
PLACE IN MY HOME...
WHERE I GET TO SEE IT EVERY DAY....
AND REALIZE THAT WITHIN OUR LITTLE FAMILY WE WENT FROM
SOMEONE WHO GREW UP IN AN ORPHANAGE AND ONLY
GRADUATED FROM THE 8TH GRADE.....
ALL THE WAY UP THE LADDER TO HIS GRANDDAUGHTER WHO
GRADUATED WITH A DOCTOR OF LAW DEGREE
FROM AN IVY LEAGUE SCHOOL....

NOW THAT'S THE AMERICAN DREAM.....
AND IT'S BEING PASSED ON TO
MISS B IN HONOR OF HER
GREAT-GRANDFATHER....


11 comments:

Ellen said...

Beautiful story.

Peg said...

What a sweet story! I have tears in my eyes. It is amazing how far a family can go in only a few generations. Priceless!

Jojo said...

Sue, that is a beautiful story and that tiny tie tack is the sweetest memory. A real family heirloom.

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Sue, I loved reading this. Truly that is the American dream.

What a loving tribute to your dad and what a sweet gift you made for him when you were little. I have tears in my eyes, and I love his diploma. So sweet.

Thank you, my friend, for this lovely post. Your dad was blessed to have YOU as his daughter.

XO,

Sheila

Cheri said...

Sue what a great story and one to be proud of. It was amazing back then that our parents even graduated high school. Both my real dad and step dad only made it to the 8th grade, also, and my mom got as far as 11th grade. Times were hard and they were needed to help either at home or financially getting some farm or household work. It is great that you have these wonderful gifts for yourself and to share. Awesome.

Yvonne said...

Wonderful story.

Linda @ A La Carte said...

Suzanne this is a wonderful story! Thanks for sharing! Hugs, Linda

Jaybird said...

ahhhhhh priceless!!!!
Congratulations to all of you!
Blessings,
J

Fairfield House said...

Sue,
I am so happy to see you back blogging! You've been quite busy. A feral cat has adopted us too and it's even more aggressive than just hissing. Feed her and she's still mean -- most be a democrat! (Couldn't help myself.) Jealous you got to see the witty Dennis Miller. Miss B in school! She's grown so quickly. Your last post brought tears. My father was orphaned when he was 7 and was turned over to relatives but spent more time on his own in the streets and relying on the NY neighborhood shopkeepers. He did not graduate HS but rather the school of hard knocks.
Your Friend,
Deborah
PS I think I gained 10 pounds just looking at your culinary treats.

Sara at Come Away With Me said...

Lots to be proud of all around...I love the little penny tie tack.

Anonymous said...

Hi Sue! Aw, I loved this sweet story and I'm so happy you found this beautiful diploma. I really love to hear family stories!
Thank you so much for popping in to see me.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)