Back To The Nest.

April has just been a whirlwind, and it looks like I'm just going to have to grab on and enjoy the ride to the very end.  It's so weird the way some whole months seem busier than others.

Last weekend, my dear college roommate, K, and her hubby came to stay at our place for a few days.  It was SO. FUN.  The highlight, as far as I can tell, was going to Elizabethtown on Friday.  It was the first time K and I had been back there together since Homecoming 2004, and it was long overdue.  (FYI, in previous posts I have referred to K as "Tex" but from here on out, she'll be K.  K?)

Part of the reason we wanted to visit was in reaction to a couple of unfortunate events that had happened over the past several weeks.  Check out this clip from local NBC affiliate WGAL to get caught up.

I think it's fairly safe to say that no one goes to a college to perpetuate hate, at least no one that I know does, or did.  And, no one goes to a college to be on the receiving end of hate.  However, as one of thousands of proud and alma mater-loving alumni, this made me so sad, as well as made my jaw drop.  Elizabethtown College?  Really?  This kind of stuff just doesn't happen there.

From this incident, however, has come conversation with a couple of my classmates about what happened and why it didn't happen when we were there (I graduated in 2004).  A lot has changed since then.  Things that just weren't issues then (maybe because young adults on the whole weren't as aware), are much bigger issues now.  The majority of college students seem much more vocal on social issues than they were when I was in school.  More power to 'em...young whippersnappers!

It has been very important for our alumni to speak out in a constructive way.  We've been able to make an impact on Facebook with our page Alumni United for a Better Etown, which has garnered 285 likes in 20 days.  We are an active bunch.  And we love our school.  And we will peck your eyes out if we think for one second you are hating on the school as a whole, or students who go there to create for themselves a secure environment in which to better themselves.  Our Facebook page has been a quiet way for us to put our feet down, shake our tail feathers, and say "NO."  Want to join us in spreading some positive, peaceful Etown love?  Check out facebook.com/ABetterEtown!

Oh, and to follow up, Etown has taken action against the students who were responsible for the nastiness on campus!  I love it when business is handled!  Check out the details in this article, and emit a smidgen of evil laughter if you'd like.

When we got to campus (after having scored a PRIME parking spot, thankyouverymuch), we went to the music building first, where we caught up with the music department's fabulous-beyond-fabulous administrative assistant and two of our fave professors.  One of them engaged ER in a roughly 15- minute conversation about colors, Disney Princesses, the weather...and maybe our cat?  They covered a lot.

Zug Memorial Hall.  Basement still smells the same, FTW.

Because if we don't act silly, who will?  The People have come to expect it of us.

In the BSC, there was a peaceful protest going on and there was a poster passers-by could sign to 'Stop the Hate.'  My heart melted when ER went right for it and picked up a marker.  I said, "Do you want to write your name?  People are writing their names to be nice to each other."  She stood quietly, whipped off the marker lid, and signed as daftly as any 3-year old child possibly could.

Do you see her little name in the bottom left of the picture?  The teacher in me

was jumping for joy at the execution of the upper case-letter, followed by lower-case letters.

I delivered a few copies of Kacey the Paper Cat to the good people at the College Store and K got this great shot of me with my other book, The Big Stink! which was already available for purchase.  This is so cool!  And hey, right under the Dr. Seuss section is not a terrible place to be!

We thankfully got to meet up with fellow classmate and faculty member Dr. Amy Milligan, which was wonderful.  She has been working her tail off lately and she does not have an easy job.  Here's to ya, girl.

By the amount of squint, one would think it was a sunny day on the beach.  

Actually, it was an overcast day in Central PA.  #fairskinproblems

Needless to say at this point, it was a great, great day.  K and I were so happy to get back on campus and hope it won't be 9 years until the next time we can get back there, together!