I thought I couldn’t love Patti Smith more than I already do. Yeah, it’s a problem. But then I read about her Pratt Institute graduation speech in May and I managed to plunge deeper. Bigger problem. Below is the video of her speech. And here, for your reading pleasure, is the most whimsical part of her speech:
My greatest urge is to speak to you of dental care. My generation had a rough go dentally. Our dentists were the Army dentists who came back from World War II and believed that the dental office was a battleground. You have a better chance at dental health. And I say this because you want at night to be pacing the floor because your fuse is burning inside of you, because you want to do your work, because you want to finish that canvas, because you want to help your fellow man. You don’t want to be pacing because you need a damn root canal. So, floss. Use salt and baking soda. Take care of your damn teeth.
P.S. I’m happy.
Hey, today’s my birthday. I’m 65 today. Show a little respect. You know–”For He’s A Jolly Good Fellow…” Do I get a Gold Watch, even?
Shit, not even a post like: “This Is Your Life, Bomb.”
Well, if I don’t get a retirement party, I’m not gonna retire.
Don’t piss me off. I may get suicidal.