May 15, 2025: The Clipper Commencement

It had to be the worst present ever.

This week, many schools hold their commencement ceremonies, including a few for friends. It got me thinking about my high school graduation.

I received lots of thoughtful gifts. Cards. Checks. Books.

And then came that one item. I opened the box, paused, and shook my head.

Fingernail clippers. A whole case of them. Enter the sad trombone: wah wah wahhhhh.

Not exactly a dream present. I mean, who gives a cuticle trimmer to an 18-year-old guy? Nobody else, before or since.

Sure, the thought was incredibly kind, and they even engraved my name on the front. But I had no plans to ever touch those nail tools.

With a shrug, I buried them deep inside my bathroom cabinet. Out of sight, out of mind. Forgot all about them. Until one day, I started using them.

Years flew by. College. Grad school. Marriage. Kids. Career. Through every chapter, that manicure gear stayed sharp and reliable.

For three decades, they never failed me. Every trim brought back memories of those friends — and their gift kept on giving.

Eventually, the case crumbled apart, and the trimmers lost their edge. I had a moment of silence before placing them gently in the trash… the greatest, most useful, longest-lasting gift of my life.

Class of 2025, take note: sometimes the things we overlook turn out to be the best.

Practical almost always beats flashy. So, forget the balloons — give a grad some clippers.