Homecoming Roadtrip...

The skies were cloudy, rain was forecast at 40% and the team was 0-4 for the season, but that wasn't going to stop us from making our annual trip to Athens and Ohio University for Homecoming weekend. We've been doing this pretty much regularly for several years and weren't about to let a little chance of rain keep us away.

The closer we got to Athens, the better the sky looked. As we hit the Lancaster by-pass, blue skies were starting to break through and sunshine bounced off the fields and trees of the Hocking Hills area. We were just about 3 weeks too early for the great colors of the oaks and maples, but the skies were clearing so we were really getting psyched.

There is just something about being back on the campus that clears out all the junk that clogs your arteries and lets the blood flow making you feel better as you mentally go back to a better time in life. I'm sure there were times back then that didn't exactly peg the old fun meter, but like lots of other memories, those got shoved to the back regions of the memory banks and we had a great afternoon.

I have to apologize for not remembering my camera, but these pictures will give you some idea of where I used to spend my time. Ellis Hall (above) is where the English and Foreign Language Departments are housed. The Alden Library was named for Vern Alden, President of Ohio University in the 60s -- certainly not an easy time to have been a university president. During his tenure, the University doubled in student population and building. One thing I liked about OU was the Georgian style of architecture used for about 90% of all the buildings on campus. Being an English Language & Literature major, I spent a great deal of my time in these two buildings -- honest.

Later, when I taught and even later when I got into administration, I would tell students at Troy and Anna High Schools that OU is what a college is supposed to look like. It is a great place to get an education because it is somewhat removed from all the "problems" associated with big city colleges. It is deep in Apalachia and still not the easiest place to get to. When you are there, you are there. By and large, the faculty is there because they want to be there too.

Pam and I were married when we were there for the last two years. I wouldn't recommend that for everyone, but we did well being there -- walking on the College Green in the spring and fall, "sledding" down Jeff Hill in the winter on trays liberated from the cafeteria for an hour or two, trying to get up Carriage Hill in the snow, or better yet stopping for the light at the bottom of the hill on a snowy morning, going to Dow Lake or Stroud's Run. Among other things, we enjoyed watching the football and basketball teams, the band (then known as "The 110 Marching Men of Ohio"), and participating in a number of aspects of college life. Back then, we saw Chicago, The Supremes, and Three-Dog Night all in concert at the Convo.

When we were there watching this year's game (OU-51/VMI-31) we sat behind an elderly couple. The lady was in her 80s and she still teaches there, still stood and cheered when the band played the fight song, still knew the words and had students coming up to her to say hi. Another thing we like about homecoming week is the alumni band comes back to play. There's just something about 300+/- bandies playing "Long Train Runnin'". Even though we're closing in real fast on 60, that kinda gets the juices flowing again.

As we drove home, I may have been into the gas pedal just a bit more than on the way down, may have had the volume turned up just a bit more as I kept time to the 60s CD, and may have kept the window down a bit longer so the wind would blow through the truck. In fact, I didn't take my sunglasses off till we got past Columbus and it was getting pretty dark. The day kind of reminded me of an old saying that I used to use a lot in the Army too: Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.

Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul. (Samuel Ullman)

Hooah