Fontana attributed this quote to her late husband Dave, who would say it when she was struggling as a starving artist — writing one-woman shows, performing off Broadway, waitressing, driving a cab. When she didn't get a part or her screenplay was rejected, Dave would urge her to stay in the moment with these words. The phrase took on devastating resonance after Dave's death. His trip — his life — had been cut short at the age of when most people are still making plans. But he had enjoyed the ride. He had found his calling as a firefighter, loved his family fiercely, and shown kindness to everyone he met. The ride was the point, not the destination. Fontana connected this to the story of Ann Nelson, a Cantor Fitzgerald employee who died on 9/11 and whose laptop was later recovered containing a list of 100 things to do — from 'make a quilt' to 'Nepal' to 'never be ashamed of who I am.' Fontana urged graduates to 'live in the moment, see the cardinal, do something on your list, however big or small.' The cardinal was a reference to her son Aidan, who during a Little League game was busy watching a brilliant red bird on the fence while the rest of the world worried about the ball.