[Crowbob]

One day, I traveled the one hundred miles to be part of an audience of proud parents witnessing the deliverance to their children of 'Certificates of Excellence'. My daughter of junior-high age was amongst those bright and shining children who had achieved an honor offered by the community college to those who satisfied the requirements of a freshman year science project.

Afterwards, in the college parking lot, in that battered old truck (The Red Truck), she gave the certificate to me, which I still proudly own, and which I promptly tossed behind the seat.

'Dad!' She wailed in disbelief.

Don't worry, I said, there are going to be many more of those to come.

An enthusiastic hug around my neck ensued. Many more of those to come, too.