During finals week of my freshman year of college, I wandered into the bookstore to procure the dreaded Blue Book. The empty pages between the blue covers were just waiting for me to fill them with all of the things I had learned during the semester.
While there, a sign caught my eye. It seemed like quite the opposite of what I was feeling.
I was in the middle of exams, and packing, and saying goodbye to new friends for the summer.
However, I bought that sign. It was in my dorm room for the rest of my college career. It is still with me, and looks a bit worse for wear. It was with me:
- When my college sweetheart and I were newlyweds in Chicago — and homesick for family and the hills of WV.
- When our children were newborns — and we were walking the floor night after night.
- When family members died or moved far away.
- Through new jobs, moves, school activities with the children, and empty nesting.
From time to time I still look at this sign, but with a new perspective.
Yes, those college days were the Good Old Days — in spite of the exams.
Yes, those adventures in Chicago — even during the Blizzard of 1979.
Yes, those wonderful moments (in retrospect) of endless rocking and singing to babies. They turned out to be pretty amazing people!
Yes, when looking back at the great memories we made with family members.
Yes, during each day and in every time in life, there were good things happening.
Good Old Days at WVWC?
- Probably was hard to think it was the Good Old Days when, as seen on this 1900 map, the campus consisted of only the Seminary Building and Ladies Hall. And when the main building burned in 1905.
- Probably was hard to think it was the Good Old Days during World War I and soldiers were training on campus…and students shipping off to fight in Europe.
- Probably was hard during the Spanish Flu Epidemic in 1918.
- Probably was hard, during the years that Roy McCuskey was president — during the Great Depression.
- Probably was hard, during the years of World War II, and Korea, and Vietnam.
In each of these cases, there were very good things happening at WVWC in spite of it all. There were people (Faculty, Staff, Students) stepping up and being creative, just as there are in 2020. Giants then…Giants now.
2020
It is hard to imagine that we are living through the Good Old Days in 2020.
Pandemics, quarantines, online classes and meetings.
Masks and sanitizers all around.
Maybe, in time, we will remember the time spent with family without all of the running around.
Or the people who were heroic.
Or the people who called to check on us.
Or the creative ways we found to do the things that are important.
Personal Perspective
This year, in our family, there is a brand new baby – born a week before Mother’s Day. We celebrated Mother’s Day 2020 by introducing the baby to family members via Zoom. A good time was had by all.
These may well be Good Old Days yet.
I think I will give the sign to my daughter for Mother’s Day so that it can inspire her as well.
p.s. Congratulations, also to Lauren Weaver (WVWC’s United Methodist Church Liaison and Spiritual Life Coordinator) and her husband Nathan Weaver (class of 2013) on the birth of Ezra Lawrence Weaver on May 2! And to Dr. Katharine Antolini, who was featured on a BBC news story about Mother’s Day as a Mother’s Day Scholar. Yes, these may be the Good Old Days after all.