Little Rock, AR
11:40 PM
What a surreal feeling it was, driving down University Ave. like I did every day for class. Turning left down the hill into campus, slowly going down the one way to the stop sign and a left to the Kappa Sigma house. They have now paved the former gravel parking lot that I had to rake as a pledge. I left a note with my pin # so the car would still be there when I got back. The front door was locked, so I headed to the student center with my laptop bag and organizer.
The homecoming queen signs were in the same spot as they used to be, of course with different names. A semi smile stayed on my face as I walked on campus, knowing that I was back in familiar surroundings. Never would I have thought I’d be coming back to UALR to talk about my life, but it felt great. There were some nerves because of the people I would know in the audience, but I was more excited than anything.
I met the student life director and went to the room. We were bumped from the big room I had pictured because of an ROTC event and ended up in a smaller room that was warm. They put out a snack spread of meatballs and veggie tray which I did not touch until afterwards. The room filled up with students and faculty and when I began, there were people standing in the back and on the sides. We were standing room only baby.
I enjoyed the talk because I got to expand on things I normally don’t. The professor I talked with about what I should do after graduation was there and I shared our discussions of doctoral, masters, or working. I shared the story of my web guy and how I met him as an alum of the fraternity when he was still enrolled. And I was able to go into detail about the father of the attendee. It was great to be able to share his story and advice with the group, but more so with her. When I met her and her daughter afterwards, it made me feel wonderful that she said I got it right. That’s what I want with the stories of others, to get it right and to pass them on.
The students were here and there, but the adults were the ones nodding their heads up and down.
After the talk I did an interview for the UALR alumni group and then went to lunch at the Buffalo Grill with one of my fraternity brothers who attended. I was hoping a friend of mine would be working his shift, but he was off. The cheese dip and Reuben were tasty.
A quick stop home to change into jeans led me to downtown, on the river front, and Sticky Finger’s at 4:30 for a beer with the G man and my web guy. This journey would not have evolved like it has without his input and help. My stay was short as I left at 6 for a 30 minute jaunt to Bryant, AR. There I met up with who I call my former brother in law. My brother married his sister. They are not married anymore, but I still keep in touch through him. He and his wife just built a huge house on 3 acres with a pool, two horses, and tons of woods. It is immaculate. I’d like to check it out in the warmer weather.
I got back here a while ago and wrap up so I can crash and be ready for breakfast with my professor.