In the late summer of 1976 my senior year of high school was approaching. I was competing for the starting quarterback spot on the football team. We had a brand new coach who didn’t know any of us, what we’d done or what we could do. Two-a-days hadn’t started yet. I was out mowing the lawn when he called. My Mom waved me in the house.
“Hey,” he said. “Want to go watch the Husky scrimmage?”
I’d grown up listening to Husky games on the radio. I’d never been to a game. Never been on the campus. I had two college teams I followed, University of Washington and BYU.
“Sure. Absolutely.”
“I’ll pick you up in an hour.”
I don’t really remember all that much about the scrimmage. I do remember Husky Stadium. They played on astroturf. Cool. I remember the coach talking to me about college, where I wanted to go, what I wanted to do, did I want to play college ball. I knew, then, that I wasn’t going to play football; although, I had the presence of mind not to tell the coach.
I eventually won the starting quarterback spot. I respected the coach; although, learning a new system meant we were in a “transition” year. That translated to our record. We didn’t do very well.
I went to college at BYU and never went back to the University of Washington campus, until this summer–38 years later.
My son, Ryan, graduated from the University of Washington, with a Masters Degree–two Masters Degrees, in fact. His graduation brought me back, back to Seattle, back to a campus I hadn’t been to in a very long time, back to 1976–the summer before my senior year in High School.
In truth, I had been back to Seattle. Although I moved away, my parents lived there during the early years of my married life. I brought my young children, Ryan included, to visit in the summers. I think that is one of the reasons Ryan chose UW for his graduate degrees.
Now, I was back. And, I really didn’t know very much about the campus, or the school. Things had changed, a lot, in 38 years. Although, the stadium was still there, under renovation construction.
As we walked the campus, Ryan taught us about the school I did not choose yet admired and still follow. The visit reinforced my love of education and respect for those who inspire and instill in others a desire for it. And, as a proud parent, I basked in the glow of my son’s achievements :). He is a good, kind, intelligent and accomplished man who has blessed my life. He will be an asset to the organization smart enough to employ him. And, the campus will draw him back, as it did with me.
And, I took a few pictures.
We can only hope!
We should all have such good friends.
The heavens knew that Purple and Gold are the colors of the University of Washington.
Family grad pic, from lft to rt–back row–Rachel, Ryan, Me–front Row–Davy, Chloe, Anne.
Graduation ceremony as Ryan prepares to shake the hand of his advisor and receive his diploma.
On the floor of the hub–messages of hope if you were discouraged and looking down.
UW Hub–the place to hangout.
One of the oldest Universities on the West Coast, the University of Washington was founded in 1861.
The Alaskan Husky is the UW mascot.
Ryan poses on UW Campus in his cap and gown.
Sometimes referred to as one of the “Public Ivies” University of Washington is ranked in the top 20 of public universities.
Drumheller Fountain adds an element of peace to the brooding sky and brick buildings of UW Campus.
In the UW campus library, guess where I’d be.
Stained glass creates a feeling of academic reverence in the UW library.
A mix of color adds to the incoming light of stained glass windows in the UW library.
At home among the books, Ryan completes his graduate education.
In the halls of learning.
Hogwarts of the west?
Brick arched windows give a european castle flavor to a west coast education.
The lamp of learning glows outside the University Library.
Red, white, blue, and the green and gold of Washington state proudly wave in the vibrant azure sky of a Seattle summer day on the UW campus.
Purple and gold–UW colors.
Patriotic academician.
Ryan graduates with two Masters Degrees.
University of Washington Campus.
My parents were pretty excited to have me. My older brother had been an only child for fifteen-plus years. My parents didn’t think they could have any more children. When my Mom told my Dad, “It’s time,” my Dad got in the car and started driving, without my Mom–sorta like in the movies. When he came back, my Mom was packed and ready. Both my Mom and my Brother got in the car and my Dad took off. The story goes that he drove ninety-miles-an-hour all the way to the hospital. When he got to the hospital, he pulled into the service station across the street and said, “Fill-er up. And, check the oil.” It took my Mom nearly twenty hours of labor to bring me into the world, so I guess my Dad knew he had time. My Mom didn’t see it the same way, so, my arrival was marked by typically stormy Seattle weather, both inside and outside the hospital.
I don’t live in Seattle, any more. My Dad has passed away, and my Mom’s memory has faded. But, I still go back, whenever I can. I’m a Seahawks fan. I’m a Mariners fan, except when they play the Dodgers, and I still think the skyline is one of the most beautiful in the world, especially when the sun shines. I’m connected to the place where I started, the place I grew up, the place I called home when I made choices that still define who I am.
They're Calling To Me 