February 23, 2010

  • Weekend memories

    It's interesting how memories are recalled, and how life events come together.  This past weekend was one of those trips back in time.  I haven't skied in 5 or 6 years, but with a cadre of graduate students, I hit the slopes last Saturday.  It took me a bit to remember how to ski, but once acclimated, I was fine.  I skidded once on a patch of ice, but did fall otherwise.  I even had the familiar motion sickness towards the end of the day.

    But that's not what struck me this weekend.  It's been more than 10 years since I had been in northwestern Illinois, the place where I spent early teen life.  My town was pretty much all on one street.  The Post Office, the gas station, the grocery store, the bank, and the church...  I drove through a lot of the of those towns Friday night.  I couldn't help but smile as I drove through at 30 mph.  I played little league in most of these places.  P and 2B, and  little bit of CF. 

    Winding through curvy roads up and down hills in the dark brought back another memory.  Shortly after coming back from the National Young Leaders Conference I kept in contact with a certain girl.  A number of times I made the trip out to small town USA to visit her.  Dark roads.  Winding roads.  And flicking the high beam on my headlights in my parents Toyota Corolla, driving.  Driving through a starry night, away from all the light pollution of the big city.  All precious moments.  Kinda fitting that the last time I saw her, I gave her a precious moment figurine.  Interestingly enough, I located my old NYLC binder that I saved in a closet at my parents place.  Wonder what the rest of the Lincoln group is up to now a days?

    The final memory that comes to mind is where I went to Junior High School.  The town where I played in a bowling league.  The town where I had my first night out after a canceled 8th grade dance.  The town 40 minutes away on a school bus.  Gone are those days.  I wish I had time to stop by and see the changes 10 years may have brought, but I didn't have time, so I drove past, just like the rest of the fleeting memories for the night.  Besides, I doubt much has really changed.