As an alumnus that now works on campus I have an interesting perspective of what being a Spartan is all about ("We'll Return Again!"). Things I noticed and experienced this one day should be no surprise to the Spartan community. I write this for your enjoyment, hopefully.
I arrived on campus this morning and couldn't help but notice a new mom eagerly watching her freshman son get started on his first day. And as I inch close to my office in school traffic I pass a dad taking pictures of the new frosh class to capture the moment of his sons first morning as a Spartan. As lunch inched closer I witnessed a basketball coach readying the team leaders of a CIF Championship team for a competitive annual mile run against his "highly skilled and athletic" coaching staff. A gentle communication between the alumni office, the ASB presidents, and the maintenance crew of the placement for a brick paver memorial for a recently fallen Spartan. Later in the day I met with a tri-school reunion committee and was part of conversation about the strong bond they've had since the second grade. Connections, memories, and old sayings they still hold close to their hearts years later.
And as I waited for my wife and son to meet me back on campus for a faculty BBQ dinner later that evening I had great thoughts about them coming to campus for the first time. When they arrived the faculty were heading into the Priests residence and as I was getting my son out of car, a tennis ball came flying from over the fence. It bounced once and landed right in my hand. When I looked to see who had thrown the ball I noticed it was one of my old teachers (O'brian, a Pirates fan). I saw the priests courtyard for the first time, had a wonderful dinner with the faculty, sang the Alma Mater and met some new faces. But one thing that really struck me later in the evening as I was thinking back was that tennis ball. I held onto it. And after dinner my wife and I took our son to the grass area of the courtyard by the water fountain and gave him the ball. He jogged his two and a half year old legs across the yard and we played catch together for the first time on campus. As other faculty members with children finished dinner they brought their young ones out to join us.
Many of the things I spoke of above didn't occur to me while they were happening earlier in the day. But now, as I reflect in low light trying to not wake my wife writing with of all things a green Damien Spartan pen, I couldn't help but think "The tradition continues". What a day!
I arrived on campus this morning and couldn't help but notice a new mom eagerly watching her freshman son get started on his first day. And as I inch close to my office in school traffic I pass a dad taking pictures of the new frosh class to capture the moment of his sons first morning as a Spartan. As lunch inched closer I witnessed a basketball coach readying the team leaders of a CIF Championship team for a competitive annual mile run against his "highly skilled and athletic" coaching staff. A gentle communication between the alumni office, the ASB presidents, and the maintenance crew of the placement for a brick paver memorial for a recently fallen Spartan. Later in the day I met with a tri-school reunion committee and was part of conversation about the strong bond they've had since the second grade. Connections, memories, and old sayings they still hold close to their hearts years later.
And as I waited for my wife and son to meet me back on campus for a faculty BBQ dinner later that evening I had great thoughts about them coming to campus for the first time. When they arrived the faculty were heading into the Priests residence and as I was getting my son out of car, a tennis ball came flying from over the fence. It bounced once and landed right in my hand. When I looked to see who had thrown the ball I noticed it was one of my old teachers (O'brian, a Pirates fan). I saw the priests courtyard for the first time, had a wonderful dinner with the faculty, sang the Alma Mater and met some new faces. But one thing that really struck me later in the evening as I was thinking back was that tennis ball. I held onto it. And after dinner my wife and I took our son to the grass area of the courtyard by the water fountain and gave him the ball. He jogged his two and a half year old legs across the yard and we played catch together for the first time on campus. As other faculty members with children finished dinner they brought their young ones out to join us.
Many of the things I spoke of above didn't occur to me while they were happening earlier in the day. But now, as I reflect in low light trying to not wake my wife writing with of all things a green Damien Spartan pen, I couldn't help but think "The tradition continues". What a day!