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Being editor of a community newspaper has a few perks. I’m never bored, for example, as there’s always something that needs to be done. Plus there’s the universal admiration and affection of the community ... what? I thought that was in the contract. Oh, never mind that last part, but I do get to write an annual column at graduation time, giving advice to the young graduates like some nutty uncle.

Alert readers might recall that last year I advised the graduating class to make sure to floss, eat more fiber, save some money and have some fun. I stand by that advice, and if I thought I could get away with it I’d run that same column every year.

But I believe in giving readers their money’s worth, so here’s something fresh. So fresh I haven’t even thought of how to end it yet. I’ll get there. Trust me.

Before I offer any advice, here’s an observation. It sure seems like the Class of 2008 at Onalaska and Holmen high schools have been through a lot. Back when they were eighth-graders, this year’s batch of Onalaska seniors had to watch brain cancer deal a blow to a nice, popular, athletic, good-looking kid named Mitch Maxey.

The life-saving brain surgery left Mitch with a paralyzed face, and he has worked hard to regain some movement. Imagine not being able to smile, wink or even blink, and that’s probably not the worst Mitch has been through during his high school years as he battled a recurrence of cancer that surfaced in his junior year.

It looks like Mitch will walk onto the stage in the Onalaska High School fieldhouse Sunday to receive his diploma, and I imagine there will be few dry eyes when he does.

In Holmen, fate dealt a blow to the classmates of a nice, popular, athletic, good-looking kid named Conor McLaughlin. He was only a sophomore two years ago when he was killed in a car crash on the last day of spring break.

Some might say Conor was the lucky one, that his suffering was over. But you know, I think a lot of Conor’s friends suffer to this day, and Mitch would tell you that he’s the lucky one. Believe it or not, there are people who have it a lot worse than Mitch.

I believe that no matter how bad things get, they could always be worse. So here’s the first lesson, graduates: Count your blessings.

And after you’re done counting those blessings, dare to dream. Think of what you really want to do, what you want to accomplish, and give it a shot.

I’ll tell you one thing, I didn’t turn my tassel on graduation day thinking I’d end up as a small-town newspaper editor. I think I chose to pursue journalism because it seemed like it was only a little more work than my real dream job, being Tom Petty, or at least playing guitar in a band with Tom Petty.

I was wrong, of course, about the amount of work involved in either profession. I’ve made some semi-concerted attempts over the years to achieve some semblance of the dream, playing in bands with some of the greatest guys I’ve known.

They weren’t Tom Petty, though, so that dream is still out there, growing fainter all the time. Tom, if you read this, check out my MySpace music page at www.myspace.com/troubadog, and for crying out loud, would it kill you to approve my friend request?

OK, so to recap, you graduates should count your blessings and dare to dream, plus floss, eat more fiber, save some money and have some fun.

Any questions?

Contact Randy Erickson at randy.erickson@lee.net or (608) 786-6812.