Another in a series of “It seems like yesterday”
One amazing thing about the brain is its ability to expand, like some sort of elastic knapsack, to contain an ever-increasing number of memories. At least, until it starts to leak around the seams, and the memory set drips away. That must bring sadness. I rather enjoy the number of things I can live, again and again, through the magic of mental images. I’m not sure if it counts as living vicariously, the second or third time around, but it fills up those moments in our daily lives where routine has made for memory fodder that resembles porridge.
Today marks the thirtieth anniversary of my graduation from UPEI. The second time around. I had decided to go for the “two-for-one” deal then available, where you could graft a B.Ed. onto the end of a B.A. for just a few dollars more (and a lot of writing). I still have the notes from that year, written in my microscrawl during my best year of attendance out of the five. I think I missed one class all year. Take that, my son who is majoring in missed lectures!
With the rigours of academic life out of the way, the senior class of ’77 moved into Marian Hall. A step down in accomodation comfort for those who lived at home or in Bernadine. A big step up for those of us from Memorial Hall, which was weeks away from formal closure and gutting. We had rooms to party in after the stresses of academic teas, picnics at Strathgartney Park, pubs in the Barn, fittings for academic gowns (which are not designed to fit, in passing). I had no guests coming for the weekend, but a heavy responsibility to the ‘Nexus’ kept my camera loaded with film and me on the move. I loved every minute of it.
We had these awesome nylon jerseys in orange and purple. I’d provide a photo, but I’m not allowed to remove it from its storage place somewhere around the house. Never fear, mine stil fits, if sausage skin is a fit factor. There is fear of terrifying young children and dogs. We wore them, proudly, everywhere. We were the Class of ’77!
I’m not going to bore you with a list of the accomplishments of that group – administrators, musicians, political hacks, entrepreneurs, etc. We can all tell our own tales. But to think that thirty years have already passed just leaves me, well, awestruck. After all, it seems like yesterday.
