Marking Those Special Occasions

Last night I went to a 5th grade graduation ceremony.  One of the granddads who attended said to me that he never imagined he would be attending a 5th grade graduation.  He went on to say that he wants to be around to attend the high school and college graduation of his granddaughter.
I've been thinking about that.  These days with some people waiting until their late 30's to begin having children, there is no doubt that some grandparents may not be around to watch those high school and college moments.
This is not an argument for having children earlier in life.  It is simply an observation that life cycle events have changed.  Now 5th grade and even pre-school graduations are more important than ever.  We need to mark every occasion by being present for those times.
I suppose as a retailer I have begun to think of these occasions in terms of gift buying and gift giving.  It is quite natural and even critical that retailers think this way...otherwise, turn off the lights and close the door.  If we are not ready with special gift items for these life cycle events, we won't be around long enough to see those events next year.
Yet we need to inspire ourselves to think about what is on the mind of the person buying that gift. I think I may have remarked in an earlier post (and if I didn't I will now) that we have seen an upsurge of people pulling out all the stops for baby's 1st birthday.  At first it seemed a little odd since baby won't even remember that day.
As you know that day is really for the parents, the grandparents, the friends who are snapping photos, watching in anticipation for baby's first taste of birthday cake.  We need those moments in our lives and we need to be celebrating every occasion we can, bringing every ounce of our spirit and joy to even the smallest occasion.
Every time I attend that 5th grade graduation, there is a point in the ceremony where I find tears in my eyes.  I know it is going to happen, so I put a piece of tissue in my pocket, ready at any instant to dab away at those tears.
I simply love watching those 10 and 11 year old kids, in their cap and gown, squirming around in their chairs, checking out their fingernails, swinging their legs under the chair.  I watch their parents, now days, with their Iphones and their Ipads, taking pictures, videotaping their child's special speech and receiving the diploma.  I think back to the 5th graduation of my child.  I cried the entire time, not out of unhappiness. However I am still not sure why I cried, even to this day I really don't know.  It was special, it was a relief, it was the first and last time that my daughter would be an 11 year old, graduating from her elementary school.
So I am taking off the retailer's hat for a time and reflecting on how important these occasions are.  Marking them with a gift is terrific.  Marking them by being there is the most important thing in the world.