“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.
