This is a sweet and short story about my Uncle Roland, who is not short and not so sweet (…teasing) and who happens to be celebrating his 72nd birthday today.
He is married to my mom’s sister and I grew up right next door to them. You could say my aunt and uncle and my six cousins were more than extended family – almost like step-family, especially since they had a very large in-ground pool. So when my siblings and I wanted to go swimming, we joked and said, “We’re heading to the back yard to go swimming!” That’s how close they lived to us! Just a short skip over the stream and past the cabana to the large pool. And when we were done swimming, we could play a game of pool or one of many other activities with our six cousins. Summers were really the best where we grew up in southern New Hampshire, living next to our cousins. There was rarely a quiet moment — my mom and my aunt can attest to that I’m sure!
So on one of my visits last year with my aunt and uncle, I learned, through a quick show-and-tell that my Uncle Roland graduated from high school in 1958 but never received an actual paper diploma. He went to Central Catholic High School in Methuen, Massachusetts and upon graduation, he discovered that there was an outstanding $50 tuition bill. However, his parents confirmed that that was taken care of. Then graduation came and went. He did graduate, but never received the paper verification. Life and time went on… who needed the actual diploma anyways? He started and ran his own successful business for many decades!
Move forward 54 years later. His son-in-law, upon learning this, decided to drop by the school and pay his outstanding balance (which is still under debate) and the school issued him his paper Diploma!
Below is a letter, archived in a gold frame, from Central Catholic High School congratulating my uncle for his achievement! This letter also provided “visual proof” of payment in the form of a snapshot, showing his son-in-law handing over a $50 check to the Assistant Principal—now there’s no more disputing that unpaid balance! Right next to the frame is a clipping from the local newspaper, tucked inside a plastic sleeve, showing my dear Uncle Roland accepting his unusually late diploma!
Happy Birthday Uncle Roland! And thank you for this great little story! So cool! I especially like how they wrote at the bottom letting you know that you’re now a part of the Elite and Prestigious Inner Circle of CCHS Alums!… I’m impressed!
What a sweet story. A feel good!!
Yes, it definitely is! Thanks for reading Gwen!
How sweet!
Yes it is.