Grace and Madison Cox graduate

Young Madison and Grace,

Congratulations on a date that has been 12 (ok 13 if you count kindergarten) years in the making. The day that you two have attended you last class. Sure this feels like an ordeal, a 12 year march of drudgery. But that is to prepare you for the never ending drudgery of loan payments – student loans, car loans, credit cards, et al. And well payments for the rest of your life – rent at first, then mortgages,electric, cell phone etc. So this drudgery does not end, it is merely transformed.

But it still is a joyous occasion – a first taste of freedom. Being able to do what you want, when you want. That lasts for about a summer, then you either go to college with it's responsibilities or you get a job and everything that goes with that And suddenly you are not as free as you once were. Now is a fun time – most of the rights and privileges with being and adult, but none of the responsibilities!

You are twins which is a unique situation. I am sure that your parents did not find it unique when they had 2 sets of diapers to change or when 1 child fell asleep just as the other awoke – crying loud enough to re-awake the other. But you two have had a built in playmate and even best friend. I have seen many sets of twins keep this special relationship all of their lives. I hope that this is the case for the both of you in the future.

Advice given from me should be measured carefully by the advised. You have to consider the source.

1. Travel while you are young and unencumbered. As you get older and acquire husbands and even children it gets harder to find the time and $$ for travel. So if there is a place on your bucket list that you want to see, do it early.
2. Neither a borrow nor a lender be. Going to college, you can't hardly go without incurring debt. But I have seen a lot of young people get out of school and get that nice new car and get a credit card and a few years down the road, they can barely manage payments. Live below your means get a gently used car. Have a gas credit card that you pay off each month and stop at that.
3. Everything in Moderation. Food, alcohol, even love. Don't overindulge in things. Take life slowly, savor it, and make it last.

Well that is the best that I can do to prepare you for the world. It is not much, but then advice is wasted on the young. I could wax on for volumes, but then you guys would not pay attention anyway. Enjoy the checks and spend it on fun things – but not too much fun.