So this Wednesday I pack up my bags, hop a plane, and bum a ride back in time. I’m not really going back in time, of course. I’m just going back to Colgate. I’ve not returned to my alma mater since I graduated—save a trip in the summer when Colgate is not Colgate; its Hamilton, NY. A quiet town at the foot of a hill, which just so happens to house a host of large old buildings that sit quietly as a reminder that come September, Hamilton, NY will once again become Colgate University.
This trip though will not be to Hamilton, but to Colgate in rare form. No holds bar, gloves off, thrown down, crazy Colgate. Or at least that’s how I prefer to remember it. I’m going back for SPW—as we in the “biz” call it…I have no idea WHAT “biz” so don’t ask. For the rest of you poor saps that’s Spring Party Weekend. The reality of the situation remains to be determined, but at the very least there will be more students than I care to count stumbling around after dark in a pleasantly numb stupor.
Generally this is a time of music, games, drinking, and general merriment. Think of it as a weekend of healthy regression when college kids get to do silly things like dunk tanks, sumo suit wrestling, etc. My senior year I did my best to participate as fully as was possible. Without a doubt I enjoyed myself…a lot! People both from ‘gate and visiting were there to share it with. We did ridiculous things like Jell-O wrestling and running around in the dark like crazy people. Moving from concert to concert, BBQ to BBQ. Making the most of everything that they were giving away.
My goal in planning this return trip was two-fold. The first was in general I wanted to see and catch up with all the former juniors, now seniors who I hung out with—mostly from Mock Trial—before they graduated and went off into the wide world of sports, er, life? Additionally, I wanted to relive a bit of the college experience with those people as well as my other friends who will be visiting concurrently.
So far all has fallen into place. I’ve talked to people at ‘Gate and they know I’m coming; I’ve coax a few of my recently graduated friends to make the trek back up to the middle of nowhere to share in the festivities; the bands are going to be good; I have a place to stay; my company during the travel bits is fantastic; ex cetera. Still, for some reason I am a bit nervous…
I’ve been thinking on it and I’m not sure why. Part of it I think is just worrying about how I’ll click with all these folks who are still in school. Have I changed a lot since I’ve graduated? I don’t think so, but can I be a fair judge of that? Will they have changed—who can say? Will I just feel old an awkward, out of place and feeling my age? Then there is always the impending potential awkwardness around ever changing personal relationships, which I’m not even going to get into. Something here, or all of it, has given me pause.
At this point though, there is no turning back. I’m going to do my best to enjoy myself. No sense in worrying about things that haven’t AND may never come to past. “Down that road lies madness.” My plan, in light of this, is to see as many people as I can, and enjoy myself doing it. If anyone reading this is at ‘gate, feel free to let me know what you are up to and I’ll do my best to run into you at some point—even if one (or both) of us won’t remember it.
PS: Work had swallowed me for the last…oh near month. So hopefully I’ll get back to you all with updates more regularly now. I talked to someone about getting my full site back up and running and I’m pretty psyched about it, so keep your eyes out.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: Colgate, College, Nostalgia, SPW
