Sometimes you have to do what's best!!!

Growing older brings with it some challenges but far more rewards, or at least that's what I have found. Age is really just a number and if you define yourself with that number, it can stifle so many opportunities that continue to come your way if you're open to them.

This weekend marks a special Jubilee Celebration for Concord's Bishop Brady High School. It's been 50 years since the first graduation took place and in that half century, thousands have found within the school, wonderful opportunities that have helped to make their future just a bit brighter. Brady has earned a deserved reputation for leadership both scholastically and with some amazing sports teams.

I attended Brady and loved every minute of the four years I was there. In fact a testament to my feelings would probably be best exemplified by the moment, only weeks before my graduation, that I met with Sister Mary Alfred, the school's principal, and asked her to fail me, so I could stay one more year.

I had planned to attend the June 14th Celebration and had noted my wishes when it was first announced.  However, I hadn't counted on a number of individuals who felt my presence at the event would cause others discomfort.

"Your thinly disguised pornography masquerading as your autobiography is shameful..." noted one letter I received. There were also e-mails and phone calls from those who clearly did not approve of my 2011 best-seller, "Was That a Name I Dropped?".

Clearly nearly 100,000 people who read the book thought otherwise and I was astounded this past week to discover on Amazon.com that copies of the book (now out of print) were selling for amounts of $ 2,000 up to $ 13,500.

There are still copies for sale at a price that doesn't necessitate your taking out a second mortgage at Concord's Gibson's and I don't think you'll find anything bordering on pornography within the tome. However, you might snatch up a copy of consider selling it down the road at the Amazon prices to finance your retirement.

I chose not to attend the Brady event, not out of fear or concern for myself, but simply because some people (not those who urged me not to attend) might be made uncomfortable by the disgruntled dozen or so. That kind of behavior may have occurred amongst high school students, decades ago, but having a group of 60ish adults behaving that way is somewhat embarrassing.

I guess I loved the school so much when I attended that I was unaware of any ill feelings toward me. After all, if you're only attending a particular school in order to lead a popularity poll, it's not a good reason to be there.  I was there to learn and in the process got an amazingly fine education.

So I wish Brady all the best and a hope that the next 50 years will continue the traditions and excellence that is an important piece of our community.