Cleveland

My Trip to the Past

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“Sue, Tim and I are going to Mount Union for the weekend to see Chas play football. Want to meet us? It will be fun.”

Chas is my sister’s and Tim’s eldest, Texas grandson, who is a freshman at my alma mater. When I learned last spring he committed to Mount Union, I was surprised. Granted Mount Union had an outstanding Division III football team, but a Houston kid in Alliance, Ohio, in the winter?

“He’s a freshman? Is he a starter?” I asked.

“Yes. An offensive guard.”

Offensive guard? Whatever that is. I always liked Chas; he isn’t offensive to me. “Well, maybe. I’ll let you know.”

Hmm. I hadn’t been to Alliance in thirty-six years. I’d really like to see my college roommate, whom I had not seen in 25 or 30 years. Plus, if I planned it right, I could stop in my hometown, visit a dear friend, and go to the cemetery to pay respects to my mom who died in 2020. (COVID prevented our family from holding her memorial service.) Yet, why would I leave the Valley of the Sun for dark, dreary, rainy, potholed Ohio with a dearth of non-stop flights to Cleveland or Pittsburgh? I’d left my past behind; why go stir up memories?

In the middle of the night, I found a reason to go. Simply put: Because you can, and there will come a time (in the not too distant future) when you can’t. Needless to say, I had a superb journey. I placed flowers on both my grandparents’ and parents’ tombstones, I shared my favorite pizza with one of my best long-time friends and her delightful doodle, Jax. My college roommate and I entertained Chas and his grandparents with Mount Union stories–after all, Chas lives in the same dorm we did over 50 years ago!

My roommate graciously gave us her tickets to the football game, which were covered, premium seats at the 40-yard line, so we were well-protected from a late afternoon shower. Even though Mount lost the game, Chas played exceptionally well, and we celebrated his accomplishment at a local neighborhood grille that evening. (BTW, I would highly recommend the onion rings and fried pickles.)

Granted I did travel back to my past; a journey I was hesitant to take. But I wasn’t overtaken with memories, I was flooded with laughter and enthusiasm for the present. Further, with young folk like Chas, who are kind, caring, and determined, our future is assured. Yes, I’m very glad I went.

Things I Learned This Week in No Order

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I strive to learn something new every day, however, this week I learned so much I could bore you to a winter’s nap. Thus, I’ve culled my list for your entertainment. And I’m bold enough to say, I bet you’re going to learn something also.

  1. President Woodrow Wilson’s breakfast consisted of two raw eggs stirred in a glass of grape juice.

2. The US Map and perhaps, the World Map is changing. Lake Ontario and New Mexico, Greenland, Iceland, and even Canada are slated to become part of America. Even the Pledge of Allegiance may undergo some alteration as to whom we pledge allegiance.

3. There’s a dearth of non-stop flights to Cleveland and Pittsburgh.

4. Yesterday, I paid $2.00 for one, small can of Campbell’s soup. Don’t ask how much I paid to fill up my car’s gas tank.

5. The government’s going to send me a DOGE check, a tariff check, and another $5,000 after the November election. (Yes, I learned that. Do I believe it? I think I’ve a better chance of winning the lottery.)

6. There’s a smoldering desire to end public libraries because with a library card, anyone can borrow any book. Including banned books. God forbid, a parent would allow their child to read To Kill a Mockingbird, Catcher in the Rye, Huckleberry Finn, Of Mice and Men, Handmaid’s Tale, etc. A total of 23,000 books have been banned from public schools to date. Curiously, though, only 3% of those banned were requested by parents. A whopping 97% came from coalitions like Moms for Liberty, Americans for Prosperity, right-wing evangelical groups.

7. Septolescent is the new word in my vocabulary. Obviously, this is a blend of septuagenarian and adolescent, or an old person who refuses to accept old age in the conventional sense. Instead they ignore the calendar and face life with purpose, enthusiasm and zest. Leo Tin Boon, a founding pilot of Singapore’s Air Force and bestselling author, coined the term septolescent to describe those who realize aging is inevitable, but mental and spiritual decline is a choice. Thanks to science life expectancy has increased dramatically, and septolescents choose to embrace it by staying active and socially connected. They keep exploring and setting new goals or having new projects. They are optimistic; they smile often; and they find joy and humor in small things. They practice gratitude and kindness and seek opportunities to help others. Finally, a word that aptly describes me! I have lots of scars and wrinkles, but the sense of humor of Dirty Johnny. I can no longer run the 100-yard dash, but I can mow the lawn when it’s over 100 degrees. I play trivia once a week at my ‘hood bar, I’m currently at work on my fifth novel, and I adore being a “Gamma” to my newborn and three-year-old grandsons.

I choose to be a septolescent and am excited to see what I’m going to learn tomorrow.