Did I ever tell you about the super fun day when I told my employer that I'm expecting? No? Well, let's take a little walk down Memory Lane and have a good laugh...
I always knew that I would be the type to keep news of my pregnancy close until after the first trimester. Perhaps it was because I have had so many friends lose babies, and also because I thought it would be sweet for my husband and I to share this one big secret for just a little while. Either way, it was important to me to savor my news for awhile before sharing it with the world.
Since I didn't deal with any puking until the second trimester (yes, friends...still puking!), it was remarkably easy to hide my little secret for awhile. My office is very flexible, so on the few rough mornings when I just couldn't seem to manage getting out of the house, it was no big deal to roll into the office around 9:30 a.m.
One morning, though, the nausea got the best of me. I could hardly stand up to get ready without feeling the room spin, and I just had to lay back down and get a grip. As my mind and stomach steadied, the pregnancy fatigue took over and I drifted back to sleep.
Then, my phone. A text. From my boss' boss.
Are you going to make it to the meeting this morning?
Oh. My. Word. I had a 9:00 a.m. meeting. With the Dean of Students. And the head of my department. And two representatives of a new fraternity colonizing on our campus. It was 8:50. My office is 15 minutes away. My hair was wet, my pajamas were on. Despite my best efforts, it wasn't going to happen.
No, I'm not going to make it.
What else could I say? I frantically readied myself for the day and managed to get into the office by 9:30, just as the Dean and Associate Dean were getting out of their meeting. I had a dilemma.
Option A: Stick to my plan of waiting until 13 weeks to tell my employer, while also looking like I flaked out for no good reason.
Option B: Throw the plan out the window and share my very good reason for flaking out.
I called my dad, who also works in Higher Education, to get his professional opinion. I shut my door, dialed his office number, and promptly burst into tears. (P.S. What is it about parents? You reasonably have it together and then the second you make parental contact your inner child comes out and you turn into a blubbering mess!) I managed to tell him what happened and asked him what to do.
Game over, honey. You've got to tell them.
One thing was for sure: I could not go tell my boss that I am pregnant while looking like a teary, snotty mess. So I hung out behind the closed door of my office, chatted with a dear friend for a bit to get my game face on (Thanks, Meredith!), and decided it was now or never. (Well, not really never. Eventually this belly would have given me away!)
I went to my boss's office, having no idea what to expect. I told him that I felt the need to explain why I had completely dropped off the planet this morning.
You see, the reason that I missed the meeting is because I'm three months pregnant and...
Before I could even explain, he was out of his chair, shaking my hand, grinning from ear to ear, congratulating me. No explanation necessary. Just pure excitement. It turns out that his wife had been violently ill for the majority of her pregnancy with their daughter. If anyone was going to understand, it was this guy! What a tremendous blessing.
And I received the same response from every other coworker in my office. I should have known, really, considering that I work with a truly phenomenal group of people, but it sure was a blessing after a few months of wondering what effect that news would have. They all thought I was a rock star for making it through all of Greek recruitment, working until 2 a.m. for a month straight, while dealing with the first few months of pregnancy; if I could do all that, I must be good at my job!
And wouldn't you know that the day before this happened I had asked my BSF group to pray that my conversation with my employer would be smooth and well-received. How amazing to see God's provision for that conversation, even though it was about the opposite of how I had planned!
Monday, November 30, 2009
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Thanksgiving was a success, my friends.
I've decided that I need to host large family gatherings more often. It is awfully good for a girl's self-esteem to have a table full of family members raving about her food. They are too kind.
I must give credit where credit is due, however, and say that ordering a Greenburg Turkey is the first step toward having a delicious and stress-free meal. The beauty of beginning to cook (aka, warming up previously prepared dishes and making gravy) at 11 a.m. (after the Macy's Parade, of course) and sitting down to the big meal at 1:30 p.m. cannot be underestimated, and that is all because I had a delicious smoked turkey waiting for me and not hogging my oven time all morning. If you find yourself hosting a holiday in the future, seriously...Buy. This. Turkey!!! (Thanks, Tom and Anne, for contributing the Tom to this year's feast!)
We enjoyed such a relaxing time with our family and I felt so very thankful to have each of them in my life. It is surreal to think that next year we will have a little almost 7-month old at the table as well. We are so very blessed.
Now to enjoy a quiet house, leftovers, and decorating for the Christmas season!
I've decided that I need to host large family gatherings more often. It is awfully good for a girl's self-esteem to have a table full of family members raving about her food. They are too kind.
I must give credit where credit is due, however, and say that ordering a Greenburg Turkey is the first step toward having a delicious and stress-free meal. The beauty of beginning to cook (aka, warming up previously prepared dishes and making gravy) at 11 a.m. (after the Macy's Parade, of course) and sitting down to the big meal at 1:30 p.m. cannot be underestimated, and that is all because I had a delicious smoked turkey waiting for me and not hogging my oven time all morning. If you find yourself hosting a holiday in the future, seriously...Buy. This. Turkey!!! (Thanks, Tom and Anne, for contributing the Tom to this year's feast!)
We enjoyed such a relaxing time with our family and I felt so very thankful to have each of them in my life. It is surreal to think that next year we will have a little almost 7-month old at the table as well. We are so very blessed.
Now to enjoy a quiet house, leftovers, and decorating for the Christmas season!
Monday, November 23, 2009
Instincts
As soon as I saw the two lines on that pregnancy test, my first thought was, "Its a boy."
And so I went through the first few weeks of my pregnancy in a starry-eyed daydream of a little boy in a miniature North Face fleece, loving on his momma, tagging along the hiking trails with his daddy, and playing with his best buddy, Weber.
But then Jonathan confessed that from the moment I told him the news, his gut said that it was a girl. Jonathan has always wanted boys and, truth be known, been terrified at the idea of having a daughter. This is largely due to his thorough awareness of the fact that he would be wrapped around the little finger of said daughter for all of eternity. And this, of course, is a legitimate fear. So the fact that he suddenly thought it was a girl was a remarkable feat for this husband of mine. He was sure of it, and his certainty made me question my initial instincts.
Not wanting to set myself up for the first onslaught of Mother's Guilt (OhmygoodnessIthoughtyouwereaboyandyou'reagirlandIhavenomaternalinstinctsandamafailureasamotheratonly4monthspregnant!!!)
I proceeded to squelch any inklings either way, and enjoyed a state of genuine contentment and excitment whether Baby Poe ended up being a boy or a girl. This made the whole process of going for "the" ultrasound much more fun and far less stressful than if my future success as a mother were hinging on the correct assumptions of my gut.
We arrived at the ultrasound and I nervously proceeded to tell my student's mother about a friend who was told "girl" at 16 weeks and then "boy" at her 19 week doctor's appointment. If it was a girl, I was prepared to say, "Show me the three lines!!!" She reassured me that she only calls it if she is certain.
And suddenly, there was our baby. On the screen. Sleeping. Heart whooshwhooshwhooshing. My heart whooshwhooshwhooshing along with the reminder that there really is a child inside me.
She pressed the censor into my belly, nudging the sleeping baby in hopes that he or she would cut the modesty and show us the goods.
Then, there were two legs. And she laughed. And said, "There's no doubt about it...Are you ready?"
It's a BOY!
And all I could do was laugh. As he scratched his little head, played with his tiny toes, all I could do was laugh with joy as I watched our son.
Looks like I have a bit of mother's instinct after all.
Jonathan has decided that his gut feeling was a subconscious attempt to prepare himself for the likelihood of having a daughter. He is thrilled to have a son, and he is thankful for the time that he though he had a daugher; it brought him to a place where he realized that he actually would be a good "girl dad." Maybe he'll have a chance to prove that someday.
But until then, he is planning many a hiking trip in those matching North Face fleeces...
And so I went through the first few weeks of my pregnancy in a starry-eyed daydream of a little boy in a miniature North Face fleece, loving on his momma, tagging along the hiking trails with his daddy, and playing with his best buddy, Weber.
But then Jonathan confessed that from the moment I told him the news, his gut said that it was a girl. Jonathan has always wanted boys and, truth be known, been terrified at the idea of having a daughter. This is largely due to his thorough awareness of the fact that he would be wrapped around the little finger of said daughter for all of eternity. And this, of course, is a legitimate fear. So the fact that he suddenly thought it was a girl was a remarkable feat for this husband of mine. He was sure of it, and his certainty made me question my initial instincts.
Not wanting to set myself up for the first onslaught of Mother's Guilt (OhmygoodnessIthoughtyouwereaboyandyou'reagirlandIhavenomaternalinstinctsandamafailureasamotheratonly4monthspregnant!!!)
I proceeded to squelch any inklings either way, and enjoyed a state of genuine contentment and excitment whether Baby Poe ended up being a boy or a girl. This made the whole process of going for "the" ultrasound much more fun and far less stressful than if my future success as a mother were hinging on the correct assumptions of my gut.
We arrived at the ultrasound and I nervously proceeded to tell my student's mother about a friend who was told "girl" at 16 weeks and then "boy" at her 19 week doctor's appointment. If it was a girl, I was prepared to say, "Show me the three lines!!!" She reassured me that she only calls it if she is certain.
And suddenly, there was our baby. On the screen. Sleeping. Heart whooshwhooshwhooshing. My heart whooshwhooshwhooshing along with the reminder that there really is a child inside me.
She pressed the censor into my belly, nudging the sleeping baby in hopes that he or she would cut the modesty and show us the goods.
Then, there were two legs. And she laughed. And said, "There's no doubt about it...Are you ready?"
It's a BOY!
And all I could do was laugh. As he scratched his little head, played with his tiny toes, all I could do was laugh with joy as I watched our son.
Looks like I have a bit of mother's instinct after all.
Jonathan has decided that his gut feeling was a subconscious attempt to prepare himself for the likelihood of having a daughter. He is thrilled to have a son, and he is thankful for the time that he though he had a daugher; it brought him to a place where he realized that he actually would be a good "girl dad." Maybe he'll have a chance to prove that someday.
But until then, he is planning many a hiking trip in those matching North Face fleeces...
Perks
Throughout my time in this job, I have been able to benefit from a few perks. Some of you may remember the time I got out of a parking ticket via a student's attorney dad. Or the endless amounts of free food I gorge on during fraternity recruitment. Now before you scold me for conflicts of interest, let me remind you about the nutty hours I work, the drama I endure, and the meetings I mediate as sorority women bicker about whether or not they can have chair covers on Pref Night.
Yeah.
A few weeks ago, yet another one of my students discovered news of my pregnancy. After all the squealing subsided, she wanted details. How far along? Names? When do you find out what you're having?
I filled her in on the whole "My doctor wants me to wait 5 more weeks to make sure all the little organs are functioning correctly" thing.
"Well, we can fix that," she replied.
The next day, I received an email from her in which she told me about her mother, an ultrasound technician in the next town over, who wanted to give me a free ultrasound just for fun. You know, to thank me for being such a fabulous Greek Advisor to her daughter and all. All I needed to do was show up at her office on her lunch break.
Um...yes, please!
So last Friday Jonathan and I found out the sex of this little bundle of joy. And I have to say that this had to be the best perk yet.
Unfortunately for you, my coworkers have decided to throw a Sex Party, complete with wearing pink or blue based on your bet and two cakes: one pink inside, one blue. I'll get to make the "big slice" in order to reveal the sex. And can I just say that I have had nothing to do with any of this? It is simply what happens when you work in an office of Student Activities party planner types!
The party is Tuesday afternoon, so be sure to check back for the big reveal!
(If you have already heard the news, please don't mention it in a comment or on Facebook...my coworkers will be very upset if you contaminate their betting system ;)
Yeah.
A few weeks ago, yet another one of my students discovered news of my pregnancy. After all the squealing subsided, she wanted details. How far along? Names? When do you find out what you're having?
I filled her in on the whole "My doctor wants me to wait 5 more weeks to make sure all the little organs are functioning correctly" thing.
"Well, we can fix that," she replied.
The next day, I received an email from her in which she told me about her mother, an ultrasound technician in the next town over, who wanted to give me a free ultrasound just for fun. You know, to thank me for being such a fabulous Greek Advisor to her daughter and all. All I needed to do was show up at her office on her lunch break.
Um...yes, please!
So last Friday Jonathan and I found out the sex of this little bundle of joy. And I have to say that this had to be the best perk yet.
Unfortunately for you, my coworkers have decided to throw a Sex Party, complete with wearing pink or blue based on your bet and two cakes: one pink inside, one blue. I'll get to make the "big slice" in order to reveal the sex. And can I just say that I have had nothing to do with any of this? It is simply what happens when you work in an office of Student Activities party planner types!
The party is Tuesday afternoon, so be sure to check back for the big reveal!
(If you have already heard the news, please don't mention it in a comment or on Facebook...my coworkers will be very upset if you contaminate their betting system ;)
Turkey Time!
Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and this year we are hosting the big event at mi casa! Jonathan's parents and brother will be making the trek from Oklahoma and spending the week with us; we can hardly wait for a relaxed staycation with family!
In order to keep things relaxed, I am attempting to do as much cooking before the Big Day as possible. Lucky for me, this side of the family has a little tradition of ordering their turkey from Greenburg of Tyler, Texas. These smoked birds are so delicious that Oprah once featured them on her Favorite Things episode! My handsome Tom will be delivered to my doorstep on Tuesday and comes fully cooked and frozen. All this means that I am exempt from the nail-biting task of roasting a turkey and I can throw all of my efforts into some stellar sides and desserts!
Joining the Greenburg on the menu are Mama Dot's Buckner Cornbread Dressing, homemade Green Bean Casserole (fresh green beans and homemade cream sauce; a new recipe, so we'll see how this one goes!), Sweet Potato Casserole with pecan crumble topping, homemade sweet Sourdough Rolls, Fresh Cranberry Orange Relish, and Pumpkin Cheesecake with Gingerbread Crust. Everything but the green bean casserole and cheesecake is already made and in the freezer; I'll make the last casserole and dessert on Wednesday, bake everything off on Thursday, whip up some gravy, and Voila! we have ourselves a stress-free Turkey Day!
Just in case any of you are sharing in the Thanksgiving duties, I'll leave you with a recipe! It doesn't get any easier than this, folks. Stay tuned for more Thanksgiving recipes!
Mama Dot's Fresh Cranberry Relish
Mama Dot was Jonathan's grandmother and one of the best cooks I have ever known. She passed away almost three years ago, and we all miss her terribly. I had grand aspirations for trying lots of new recipes this Thanksgiving, but when it all came down to it, nothing but Mama Dot's classics would do. Here is one of my favorites...
In order to keep things relaxed, I am attempting to do as much cooking before the Big Day as possible. Lucky for me, this side of the family has a little tradition of ordering their turkey from Greenburg of Tyler, Texas. These smoked birds are so delicious that Oprah once featured them on her Favorite Things episode! My handsome Tom will be delivered to my doorstep on Tuesday and comes fully cooked and frozen. All this means that I am exempt from the nail-biting task of roasting a turkey and I can throw all of my efforts into some stellar sides and desserts!
Joining the Greenburg on the menu are Mama Dot's Buckner Cornbread Dressing, homemade Green Bean Casserole (fresh green beans and homemade cream sauce; a new recipe, so we'll see how this one goes!), Sweet Potato Casserole with pecan crumble topping, homemade sweet Sourdough Rolls, Fresh Cranberry Orange Relish, and Pumpkin Cheesecake with Gingerbread Crust. Everything but the green bean casserole and cheesecake is already made and in the freezer; I'll make the last casserole and dessert on Wednesday, bake everything off on Thursday, whip up some gravy, and Voila! we have ourselves a stress-free Turkey Day!
Just in case any of you are sharing in the Thanksgiving duties, I'll leave you with a recipe! It doesn't get any easier than this, folks. Stay tuned for more Thanksgiving recipes!
Mama Dot's Fresh Cranberry Relish
Mama Dot was Jonathan's grandmother and one of the best cooks I have ever known. She passed away almost three years ago, and we all miss her terribly. I had grand aspirations for trying lots of new recipes this Thanksgiving, but when it all came down to it, nothing but Mama Dot's classics would do. Here is one of my favorites...
- 1 lb. cranberries (one bag)
- 1 medium orange
- 1 c. sugar
Rinse cranberries and place in the bowl of a food processor. Cut the stem end from the orange and slice into wedges. Add to food processor. Process until cranberries and orange are chopped. Add sugar and pulse until the entire mixture is finely chopped. Chill until serving time, or freeze and thaw before serving.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Wrapping Up Week 16
- Baby Poe missed the memo that the puking phase of pregnancy is the first trimester, not the second. I only threw up about twice in my entire first trimester, but once I hit 13 weeks I have had an appointment with the porcelain throne at least once a week. Now, compared to many women I know, that is nothing. I realize that. But it is quite baffling when every pregnancy email tells you how great you should be feeling at this point in the pregnancy, while I am dodging my coworkers to make it into the one-seater bathroom before I create a new "My Most Embarassing Moment" story. To be gross and detailed (hey, this blog is as much for my memory as it is for your enjoyment!), I think it is all a result of acid reflux and not morning sickness-like nausea. I always feel just fine before throwing up, but then suddenly feel that burning in my chest/throat, then the watery mouth, and then RUN!!! before WWIII breaks out in the bathroom (Jonathan's description, not mine). So, so strange.
- Speaking of puking and Jonathan, we have got the routine down (if the fun happens while he is around). While some people want someone nearby to hold their hair back, I do not want anyone near me whatsoever. When the first incident occurred, Jonathan went to get a glass of water and then stood next to me holding it until I was ready; I'm pretty sure I just about knocked him out as I flailed my arms mid-puke to indicate that I wanted to be ALONE. But then as soon as the action subsided I wanted that glass of water, dang it! So now as soon as the fun begins Jonathan grabs a glass of water and quietly slides it right next to the toilet before leaving the room (although I'm pretty sure he stands right around the corner just in case I need him, quite the accomplishment considering his weak stomach!). He is a champion water boy and offers the perfect amount of pity and sympathy when the games are over.
- I think I have been feeling the first of Baby Poe's movements. There have been a few of those little popcorn/gas bubble sensations, and then yesterday after lunch I felt a very distinct flutter that just stopped me in my tracks and brought tears to my eyes. Do it again, baby!
- The pregnancy "glow" is a lie. The glow is, in fact, caused by excess oil that leads me to break out like a teenager. I have been blessed with clear skin for most of my life and only get the occasional pimple, almost always on my chin and almost always around a certain time of the month. Yesterday I woke up to FIVE, count 'em FIVE zits. A monster on my chin, along with a couple mini-monsters, another one my cheek, one more on my nose, and then today they added a sixth friend on my right temple. It is no fun to look like a knocked up pubescent teen, and I sure hope this little phase does not last.
- Though I have been attempting to get as much wear out of my non-maternity clothes as possible, each morning brings some laughs as I discover that yet another garment doesn't fit. This morning I put on a pair of dress pants that could barely zip and definitely not button, and then topped it off with a white button-up shirt that is now entirely too short. Jonathan and I got a good giggle out of the ensemble before I swapped it out for maternity pants and a longer top. Elastic waists are heavenly.
- Despite the puking, my appetite is back with full force. Last night, after reading a Facebook status about peanut butter cookies (thanks, Katie! :) I couldn't get them out of my mind. Luckily we have a neighborhood coffee shop/restaurant/bakery just around the corner that makes a killer dessert called the Charlie Brown bar: peanut butter oatmeal cookie base, chocolate chips, and peanut butter frosting all melded together into one dreamy bar cookie. After pining for one all the way through So You Think You Can Dance and halfway through Glee, Jonathan was off to the bakery and returned a few minutes later with my dream come true. Pretty sure I moaned after every bite. It. Was. Awesome. (Should be fun to see what my weight gain is at the next appointment, huh?)
- Though I have been resisting the urge to spend money on the baby at this point, I did buy Baby Poe's first little gift this week. A friend and I met for lunch at The Women's Exchange on Tuesday; it is a quaint little tea room that also sells handmade baby clothes and toys. Oh. My. Word. I think I teared up the second I walked in the room. I was a bit early and began to browse when a little old lady on staff asked if she could help me. I mentioned that I was expecting, and it was all over! Before I knew it she was pulling out every christening gown and smocked dress in the place; each of them were out of this world gorgeous. Once we know what we are having I might just have to go back and buy an heirloom outfit for this little guy or girl. I did, however, find a little handmade dauchshund stuffed toy, made of brown and white fabric with a navy grosgrain bow around its neck. Jonathan grew up with a dauchshund, Holly Angel, and loves them to this day, so when I saw this little thing it just had to be ours! Unfortunately, when I brought it home Weber thought it had to be hers too (don't worry, the dauchshund is fine!); looks like we have some training to do before this house gets full of stuffed animals and other little toys!
Well, that's the latest in this crazy journey! Oh, and sorry there is no bump pic. Wouldn't you know that I left my brand spankin' new camera in Oklahoma last weekend? Don't worry, the fam will bring it next week for Thanksgiving, and we are taking pictures of the bump, they are just all on 35 mm.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Memory Lane
The reunion weekend was fantastic. I don't think I went to bed before 2 a.m. all weekend, which is monumental considering that I have been ready for bed by 9 p.m. since I've been pregnant! But when you've got so many of your favorite people chatting the night away in one room, you just can't go to bed. Before the reunion, the Alumni Association asked me to share a few memories during our class reunion luncheon. I thought that some of you OBU alum readers might get a kick out of this little walk down memory lane, so here is the gist of my speech, along with a few pictures from the weekend:
In the five years since leaving Bison Hill, I have been working in college student affairs. Basically, that means that I wanted to be Monica Mullins when I grew up. Working with college students has many benefits. You are always up on the latest trends in music and fashion, you always know which celebrities are dating, and you get enough drama from college student love affairs to never need a television set again. Contrary to popular belief, we student affairs professionals don’t go into this field just so we can stay in college forever, but I think my favorite perk of the job is the way it leads me to recall my own college experience quite frequently. This was never more prominent as it was last year when I was able to return to OBU as a staff member. In the nine short years since we first donned our beanies, so much has changed. Here are just a few observations that might bring back some memories of our days on Bison Hill…
Remember the Audix system? We arrived on campus with our wallets full of plastic AT&T phone cards with which we could call our friends back home. I had a cell phone, but it resembled Zach Morris' "timeout" phone more than the modern day Blackberry, and I had to leave it in my car and use it only for emergencies. Not that I could get any service in WMU anyway! When I came back to work at OBU, those old beige plastic phones were long gone. Ask any student you see on campus today about Audix and you will get a blank stare. Most of them don’t even pick up the phone any more…just send a text message and your next trip to the City is planned!
DTRs, or Define the Relationship conversations, are no longer held in the stone gazebo outside of the GC. Nope, now if you’ve had dinner in the ARA together for more than a few days in a row, your relationship is determined by the relationship status function on your Facebook page. But don’t worry, just as many of those say “engaged” and “married” as they did when we were students. Some things don’t change that quickly!
The Stubblefield gazebo is still wired for electricity and perfect for hauling your miniature tv/vcr combo out for a movie under the stars. But it also gets wireless internet access, so you might as well save yourself the trouble and watch a few Hulu shows on your laptop. Instead of waiting two hours to download one free song off of Audiogalaxy for burning on to a CD, you can now buy a song on Itunes and join the throng of students walking across campus with white cords dangling out of your ears.
Now I know that Dr. Brister is no longer serving as this University’s president, but I don’t think there is a person in this room who doesn’t let out a giggle at the mention of Luke 2:52. Imagine my shock when I returned to OBU and heard him give a brand new speech…the “Nickel Decision” speech…with not one mention of Luke 2:52! I guess he had his fill of “Luke 2-5-2” intramural football plays and decided it was time to shift gears. If you would like a nutshell version of the Nickel Decision speech, feel free to see me after the luncheon.
On Wednesday mornings at 10 a.m., Raley Chapel now reverberates with the sounds of a pretty “emo” worship band, a far cry from the days of hymns led by Dean Paul Hammond.
No one holds functions anymore! Gone are the days of heading to the old Armory for a night of moving rhythmically to music. But don’t worry, the ole Tumbleweed—or, “The Weed,” as some of you regulars might affectionately refer to it—is still open up in Stillwater, and students are still trekking up there for a night of fun.
As time has moved on, however, some things on Bison Hill have stayed the same. Tonight, they will celebrate Harvest Court and put that ridiculous cape and huge crown on a new queen and king. Owens Hall is still filled with that musty smell and the open doors of faculty members ready to put their plans on hold for a long conversation with a student. You will still get a phone call from Bobby Canty if you don’t meet your required chapel attendance. Stir fry day still creates a long line in the ARA each Wednesday. Upperclassmen still scare the beanies off of the freshmen by running in at the beginning of Welcome Week, and cheer them on proudly during The Walk. Dan Reeder keeps the jokes and carols coming at Christmas Chapel and students still cram the floor of the Kerr Lobby to hear now retired Dr. Mac Roark read the Christmas story at Kerr Christmas. The GC is still a black hole for wasting time, but also prime space making lifelong friendships. And Brotherhood, which everyone now calls Agee, still smells like boy.
While living in Waco, Texas, a few years ago, I was able to attend an OBU Alumni dinner. At the end of the meal, a couple who were both in their 80s asked to say a few words. They proceeded to tell of the lifelong friendships they have enjoyed with their classmates from OBU; their world travels together, class reunions together, raising families together. They said that no matter where they have lived, who they have met, or what life has thrown their way, their OBU friendships have been one of the longest-lasting influences in their lives. Five years after graduation, I already agree with those older, wiser alums, and I sure hope that I can stand here when I am 80 and say that of all the things that changed over time, these friendships never did.
For those of you who made it to the reunion, it did my heart so much good to see your faces and savor your company. For those of you who didn't, we better see you in five years! Ka-rip, ka-rap, and God Bless OBU!
In the five years since leaving Bison Hill, I have been working in college student affairs. Basically, that means that I wanted to be Monica Mullins when I grew up. Working with college students has many benefits. You are always up on the latest trends in music and fashion, you always know which celebrities are dating, and you get enough drama from college student love affairs to never need a television set again. Contrary to popular belief, we student affairs professionals don’t go into this field just so we can stay in college forever, but I think my favorite perk of the job is the way it leads me to recall my own college experience quite frequently. This was never more prominent as it was last year when I was able to return to OBU as a staff member. In the nine short years since we first donned our beanies, so much has changed. Here are just a few observations that might bring back some memories of our days on Bison Hill…
Remember the Audix system? We arrived on campus with our wallets full of plastic AT&T phone cards with which we could call our friends back home. I had a cell phone, but it resembled Zach Morris' "timeout" phone more than the modern day Blackberry, and I had to leave it in my car and use it only for emergencies. Not that I could get any service in WMU anyway! When I came back to work at OBU, those old beige plastic phones were long gone. Ask any student you see on campus today about Audix and you will get a blank stare. Most of them don’t even pick up the phone any more…just send a text message and your next trip to the City is planned!
DTRs, or Define the Relationship conversations, are no longer held in the stone gazebo outside of the GC. Nope, now if you’ve had dinner in the ARA together for more than a few days in a row, your relationship is determined by the relationship status function on your Facebook page. But don’t worry, just as many of those say “engaged” and “married” as they did when we were students. Some things don’t change that quickly!
The Stubblefield gazebo is still wired for electricity and perfect for hauling your miniature tv/vcr combo out for a movie under the stars. But it also gets wireless internet access, so you might as well save yourself the trouble and watch a few Hulu shows on your laptop. Instead of waiting two hours to download one free song off of Audiogalaxy for burning on to a CD, you can now buy a song on Itunes and join the throng of students walking across campus with white cords dangling out of your ears.
Now I know that Dr. Brister is no longer serving as this University’s president, but I don’t think there is a person in this room who doesn’t let out a giggle at the mention of Luke 2:52. Imagine my shock when I returned to OBU and heard him give a brand new speech…the “Nickel Decision” speech…with not one mention of Luke 2:52! I guess he had his fill of “Luke 2-5-2” intramural football plays and decided it was time to shift gears. If you would like a nutshell version of the Nickel Decision speech, feel free to see me after the luncheon.
On Wednesday mornings at 10 a.m., Raley Chapel now reverberates with the sounds of a pretty “emo” worship band, a far cry from the days of hymns led by Dean Paul Hammond.
No one holds functions anymore! Gone are the days of heading to the old Armory for a night of moving rhythmically to music. But don’t worry, the ole Tumbleweed—or, “The Weed,” as some of you regulars might affectionately refer to it—is still open up in Stillwater, and students are still trekking up there for a night of fun.
As time has moved on, however, some things on Bison Hill have stayed the same. Tonight, they will celebrate Harvest Court and put that ridiculous cape and huge crown on a new queen and king. Owens Hall is still filled with that musty smell and the open doors of faculty members ready to put their plans on hold for a long conversation with a student. You will still get a phone call from Bobby Canty if you don’t meet your required chapel attendance. Stir fry day still creates a long line in the ARA each Wednesday. Upperclassmen still scare the beanies off of the freshmen by running in at the beginning of Welcome Week, and cheer them on proudly during The Walk. Dan Reeder keeps the jokes and carols coming at Christmas Chapel and students still cram the floor of the Kerr Lobby to hear now retired Dr. Mac Roark read the Christmas story at Kerr Christmas. The GC is still a black hole for wasting time, but also prime space making lifelong friendships. And Brotherhood, which everyone now calls Agee, still smells like boy.
While living in Waco, Texas, a few years ago, I was able to attend an OBU Alumni dinner. At the end of the meal, a couple who were both in their 80s asked to say a few words. They proceeded to tell of the lifelong friendships they have enjoyed with their classmates from OBU; their world travels together, class reunions together, raising families together. They said that no matter where they have lived, who they have met, or what life has thrown their way, their OBU friendships have been one of the longest-lasting influences in their lives. Five years after graduation, I already agree with those older, wiser alums, and I sure hope that I can stand here when I am 80 and say that of all the things that changed over time, these friendships never did.
For those of you who made it to the reunion, it did my heart so much good to see your faces and savor your company. For those of you who didn't, we better see you in five years! Ka-rip, ka-rap, and God Bless OBU!
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