I
know it's a cliche to say "where does the time go?"...
but it is hard to believe that four decades have passed since I went off to college!
A few weeks ago I got a box in the mail from my alma mater - the University of Virginia - as part of our "virtual reunion". Our actual (35 year) reunion was cancelled last year due to Covid, and although many of us are getting vaccinated, and students will return to Charlottesville in the fall, this year's events (for classes ending in 0,1, 5 - that's me - or 6) will be held online.
I certainly put my formal education to use in 30+ years working in public policy, but what makes my connection to UVa so strong are the experiences I had with the people who became part of the fabric of my life.
I'll start with my college roommate, Kerry, who has made multiple previous appearances here on the blog...most recently in October, 2019 when we had a girls' weekend in Chicago and went to the UVa-Notre Dame football game.
We met when we moved into the dorm, and have been in almost daily contact since. Before there was Facebook, or email, or even cheap long distance - we stayed in regular touch the old fashioned way - with letters and snapshots. She's the reason I got onto Facebook, so we could share pictures of our kids.
Anytime I need a lift to my spirits (not just in the last year through the pandemic) she's there...and she's the one who suggested we have a mini-dorm reunion on Zoom, since our real life reunion was cancelled. She and her husband are some of my favorite, most spirited Wahoos, and I can't wait until we can see them again in person.
Closer to home (lots closer - about 10 minutes away) is my friend Dorsey. We met taking religion classes together (she was a major, and I minored) and reconnected in Austin. Unbeknowst to me, she had moved here right after graduation as well, but our paths didn't cross for a couple of years. We ran into each other one night in a restaurant - and have been in touch ever since.
The restaurant she ran for years was in my neighborhood, and always a favorite. These days (and for the last decade) she has been running an urban farm and guesthouse. When the pandemic hit, she was no longer selling her eggs and produce to Austin's many farm to table restaurants, and began offering them online to friends and neighbors. My weekly visits to pick up eggs, greens and veggies has been on of the truly bright spots in the past 15 months...I can't overstate the joy of seeing a friend in person...and now that we are both fully vaccinated, hugs are back.
There are so many more people - here in Austin - and around the world that are only part of my life because our paths crossed in those short four years we found ourselves together as students at UVa.
While it would certainly be lovely to return to Charlottesville, I'm looking forward to the online programs that the University has put together for next week...and I'll be wearing my UVa jewelry while we Zoom.
Until next time.
