The Gold Beach High School graduation was nicely done. The gym was packed — at least 800 people to wish the 59 graduating seniors congratulations. The band played well, giving an impromptu drum-roll for two of the graduating percussionists, Nathan DeLaney and Daniel Koenig. Lenie played piano for two seniors, Summer Robbins and Kylie Sigman, who sang the songs, “I Hope You Dance” and “Something Told the Wild Geese.” Gifted voices.

My son, Sam, and I sat at the top of the bleachers, as sons Jake and Robby played with the band behind us in the “weight lifting” area.  I knew a lot of people, as people in a small town always do. It’s a far cry from growing up in a big city like Boston where I knew very few people.

It was a noisy, fun crowd with lots of hoots and hollers for various students. The graduates themselves were well behaved with only the occasional fist thrust into the air to signify their triumph. A high school graduation in a small town is a very satisfying experience. I caught up with several graduating members of the golf team — Brett Martin and Mitch Longwill –  and wished them luck.

Jessie Denning’s Valedictory speech, which she gave jointly with Salutatorian (and boyfriend) Tim Smith, was superb. Tim, a shy kid, brought laughter from the audience twice with his dry, quiet wit. He took his first steps towards learning that a few carefully chosen words are worth more than many flamboyant words.

All in all, this was the best show in town. Lenie got a beautiful bouquet of flowers for her year-long effort to play volunteer piano for the high school this year. She was delighted, and she also got to serve post-graduation cake to the assembled guests in a room off the gym. There’s just no end to volunteer duties in a small town.

I often get caught-up with publishing BHM, but I love these reminders, like with this small town graduation, of what BHM is all about. This community is impressive. I live in small town America, and I love it.