Decorations

Scribbling about shared experiences (from my dad!)

This scribble features a reflection from Mike Odom— outdoorsman, banker, best friend to River the dog, fisherman, but— most importantly— my dad. My dad penned the words below on the night of my graduation from UGA on May 13.

At first, I was hesitant to share them for fear of “tooting my own horn,” if you will. That has never been and never will be the goal of my scribbles. But, after reading, I was reminded of an easily forgotten truth: our lives aren’t lived in isolation. However we spend our time and energy, good or bad, will influence the people we share life with, for better or for worse.

I’ve said enough and will leave the rest to good ole’ Mike. Enjoy!

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We decorate to celebrate! We decorate our homes, our military heroes, our bodies, to celebrate holidays, milestones, accomplishments, happy times. We celebrate with ribbons, balloons, lights, fireworks, vivid colors.

I woke up this morning at Pink House, Caroline’s UGA home in Athens for the past two years. As I stumbled from the kitchen with the morning’s first brew, I saw it for the first time, draped across the dining table. Comingled bright colors on the sea of black— Caroline’s graduation regalia.  The mortarboard was adorned with three tassels, one each from the Terry College of Business, the Grady College of Journalism and the UGA Honors College, from which she received degrees at the ceremony tonight.  The robe was adorned with cords—6 or 7 in all. One from the Grady college, one from the UGA Visitors Center, one signifying a Deer Run Fellow, others that I can’t recall.  Add a gold coin suspended from a red and black satin lanyard from ILA and a fourragère, a beautiful, braided cord worn on the left shoulder by First Honors graduates. The kaleidoscope of color took my breath away as I reflected on Caroline’s experiences over the past four years.

Graduation day was a coupling of emotional moments for this fortunate dad. Caroline was selected to speak, and did so most eloquently, at the Institute for Leadership Advancement brunch. She was also awarded the Servant Leadership Award, having been selected by vote of the 30 or so participants. She elected not to attend the Terry ceremony, but we dropped in on the informal Grady gathering to meet her favorite professors. The evening university-wide convocation was awesome, concluding with brilliant fireworks set to UGA music--a true celebration of the class of 2022.

Caroline emerged in full regalia just before leaving Pink House for the afternoon events. The kaleidoscope forced a welling of tears as my heart continued to swell with happiness, pride (hopefully the good kind), and love for this bright young woman, who is stunning in so many ways. Her poise, presence, grace, confidence, commitment, humility, generosity, empathy, depth of thought, and expressive abilities with spoken and written words amaze me. Dear friend and UGA accounting professor Tim Keadle recently wrote, “Hunter and Caroline took full advantage of all that UGA has to offer.” I couldn’t agree more. Granted, I may be a bit biased, but the results are undisputable!

We hopped a Lyft downtown midafternoon.  As we climbed in, the cheerful driver asked, “Who is graduating?” I jokingly replied, “I am!” to laughter and the typical “getting a raise” comment. I wanted nothing to detract from the celebration of Caroline and her many accomplishments over these four short years in the Classic City of the South. She earned and deserved decoration.  

However, I must humbly confess that there was another, albeit much smaller, quieter, concurrent celebration in my soul. I did not “do” college right. While I got the education part, I did not have great experiences. I was too serious, too cost conscious, too introverted, too whatever, flaws that still inhibit sometimes. Except for meeting and falling in love with Mary, which is the greatest, most life-changing event ever, those four years would be rewound and recast if life worked that way. But fortunately, I guess, it doesn’t, or I might be stuck in rewind/recast mode forever, trying to perfect the scenes.

That has all now been redeemed. In my sixth decade of life, Mary coerced me to Athens many times when fishing would have been my choice. Without even knowing it, Hunter (UGA ‘16) and Caroline have allowed me to experience college, however vicariously, for eight wonderful years through them and their well-chosen friends, many of whom Mary and I consider to be our friends now. Redcoat band rehearsals; pre-game and post-game tailgates;  a crock pot of chili hidden in the shrubbery for access to an obscure electrical outlet; hosting groups of incredible young people for St. Patrick’s and beach days at Great Oaks and at St. Simons; a convoy of UGA Band equipment trucks pouring into Great Oaks as we hosted breakfast for the drivers; GA/FLA game trips; parent’s weekend gathering at Smilledge; honors day celebrations; graduation tailgate with the our dear friends the Johnsons; staying at Pink House with its five residents and constant flow of visitors; dinners at Last Resort Grill; walking north campus; picnic lunch by Hearty Field in front of the honors school; downtown Athens, although I opted out on the late night adventures; a stormy Alabama game at the Crescendo Inn—just me, a dog and a bottle of wine; an Anglican Easter service; an amazing Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia concert; a red pickup truck bed loaded with graduating friends headed to Sanford; a myriad of images etched in the mental photo album. 

So, as I approach 60, I finished college. No regalia, no ceremony, no decorations, none needed. I graduated, and I am richly blessed to have shared these experiences with Mary, Hunter, Caroline, and a host of friends.

We decorate to celebrate! Tonight, on the bridge overlooking Sanford Stadium, as I wrapped by arms tightly around Caroline to celebrate her accomplishments on this special day, my swollen heart was decorated with a stained-glass collage of sweet experiences. I guess that makes me a Dawg forever, too.