“You got to know when to hold em, know when to fold em, know when to walk away and know when to run.“

- Kenny Rogers

There comes a time in everyone's life when they feel they are truly having a moment of, for lack of a better word, Zen.

For some, this comes in the form of yoga, meditation, or perhaps just a good bottle of wine on a rainy afternoon. For me, there have been a few fleeting chances of true enjoyment.

Finding my first apartment and enjoying my independence. Sleeping on the beach in Maine during that vacation a few years ago or anytime there is just enough peanut butter left in the jar to complete a sandwich.

Unexpectedly, I found yours truly having one of those rare moments just this week. There I was, fixing up the lawn in the sun, beads of sweat pouring down the sides of my face and the smell of gasoline and oil infusing my clothes.

Talk all you want about therapy, positive aggression or self-help.

My suggestion to anyone with some really pent-up stress needs to go no further than the backyard and let a weed whacker go to work on your “issues.” I was making my final pass when the sounds of “The Little Brown Jug” started ringing in my ears.

Now you may be wondering just what that little ditty is. I guarantee you that you've not only heard that song many times but have actually had your heart filled with joy by this simple tune. You see, no matter where you go in life some things never change and the musical play list for the ice cream man is no different.

I reached into my pocket and was overjoyed to find a five spot. A smile waved across my face as the truck rounded onto my street.

Like a little kid I went running after that blue vehicle of joy. Some of life's best happinesses are still the simplest; an ice cream sandwich on a hot day. True bliss.

I bring this afternoon's delight up because this week I have to go to two graduation parties and I feel that this is the proper time to dispense some age old advice to those finishing up with school.

I think that the best thing to keep in mind is that you now have the world at your fingertips; and I'm not just talking about Google either. You are basically a blank slate, you have any number of opportunities to make some truly great decisions as well as some really awful mistakes. Choose wisely.

You can be whatever you want to be, whether that's a plumber, a barber or a nurse. Be a bum or a rock star. It's all up to you.

Walk the path less traveled or feel free to drive down a paved road doing 90. Whatever you decide; enjoy it. Keeping in mind that today will only happen once.

So, if there is any wisdom worth remembering that this old graduate can give it is this: Enjoy your ice cream before it melts.

Auburn native Bradley Molloy's column appears here, each

Sunday, in The Citizen.

He can be reached at lovonian@hotmail.com