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CindyH: How about a best commencment speech by a sitting president, ex- pres or presidential spouse? I’d
vote for Barbara Bush’s Wellesley address: “At the end of your life,
you will never regret not having passed one more test, not winning one
more verdict or not closing one more deal. You will regret time not
spent with a husband, a child, a friend or a parent.” It meant a lot to me at the time because I was feeling a lot pressure to put my boys in daycare and “get a real job.”
Question: What do you think of Barbara Bush’s words of wisdom?
D.F. Oliveria is a columnist and blogger for The Spokesman-Review. Huckleberries Online was judged the best 2008 Idaho newspaper blog by the Idaho Press Club. And the best 2007 news blog in the Pacific Northwest by the Society for Professional Journalist. Print Huckleberries is a past winner of the Herb Caen Memorial Column contest by the National Association of Newspaper Columnists. The Readership Institute of Northwestern University cited this blog as a good example of online community journalism.
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sue on May 19 at 8:06 a.m.
I doubt Barbara Bush ever felt the need, or was pressured to get a real job. I thought President Obama’s address to Notre Dame was thoughtful, incisive, and intelligent on such a difficult topic that he was forced to take on.
JBelle on May 19 at 8:46 a.m.
And at the same time, I would lay down $1000 cold hard cash that President Obama would staunchly maintain that no one has to take a needless cheap shot at former First Lady Barbara Bush to make his address a really good one. Which it was.
JeanieSpokane on May 19 at 9:08 a.m.
What do I think of Barbara Bush’s words? They are wise and wonderful and I wish I had the luxury of following them because I do regret the missed time with my boys because I had to work. A “real job”? I’ve had to be mother and father to two boys, breadwinner, cook, bottle washer, janitor, carpenter, fireman, taxicab driver, cheerleader, nurse, playmate, teacher and in my spare time earn minimum wage at one fulltime job and clean other people’s houses at a second.
Cabbage Boy on May 19 at 9:15 a.m.
Jeanie, have I mentioned I have the utmost respect for single parents who, a) maintain their sanity and b) do a good job raising their kids.
I know how difficult a job that is with two parents and one staying home. Kudos to those that do a good job without that luxury of having a spouse to help.
JeanieSpokane on May 19 at 9:32 a.m.
Yes, CB, you have. And I appreciate it. :) (but I didn’t maintain my sanity)