During basketball season I wore my UVa pendant and earrings a lot, and posted pictures to a Facebook fan group in a discussion of lucky charms...as a result, several folks asked if they could buy earrings or a version of the pendant - so I said yes to both.
I found a source for blue, white and orange glass cabochons, and set about making a couple of custom pendants.
About a month ago, I got a call from my college roommate; she asked if I wanted to meet her in Chicago, and get on an alumni bus to go to South Bend, Indiana to see our alma mater, UVa, take on Notre Dame in football. Her husband had received a pair of tickets to the game, but couldn't go, so I said SURE! and proceeded to make hotel and airline reservations.
I also decided to make an extra pendant as a birthday gift for her, and took it with me.
Notre Dame had the luck of the Irish on their side for the game, but every other aspect of the weekend was a reflection of my good fortune.For starters, there was the weather - I didn't have any trouble flying from Austin, but shortly after I landed, it turned dark and stormy, and lots of folks coming in for the weekend were delayed. Since we both arrived on time, we were able to have dinner with another longtime friend who lives in Chicago, at a fabulous place in Little Italy.
By Saturday morning the storms had cleared, and we got on a charter bus with lots of other alumni and headed to South Bend. When we arrived, we were greeted by lots of blue and orange at a fabulous tailgate. We then proceeded to visit old friends and make new ones over beers and burgers before heading to the stadium.
We had great seats (even if we were surrounded by folks cheering for Notre Dame) - and although they didn't win, our Hoos held their own against the Irish and their VERY LOUD fans.
It was a fabulous weekend, filled with fun, good food, and a chance to spend time with people who mean a lot to me. It also gave me to time to pause, and more than anything else, I was reminded of how fortunate I am...
to have had the opportunity to attend college - especially a great state school like the University of Virginia - where I made friendships that I now measure in decades;
to be able to drop everything and dash off to spend a weekend with those fabulous people;
and to have the opportunity to continue learning at Creative Side as a metalsmith.
Sometimes, with all the difficult things going on in the world, it is wonderful to be reminded of how much there is to be celebrated.
Until next time.
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