Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Lesson 8: Nostalgia in the middle of September

This year back-to-school brings more that the usual dose of nostalgia.  The smell of the grape harvest, listening to the marching band practice, and hearing the whistles blown by football coaches, all bring a flood of fond memories to me each year. One by one the black and orange jerseys go by as I sit at my desk in Harbor Creek High School.  Strange-- I can still remember the jersey numbers of all of my friends, but I can't recall where I set my car keys six out of seven days of the week.

But this year it is different some reason--the nostalgia stronger than ever before.  I have an awakened sense of time passed and friends that I miss.  Maybe it's the looming 40th birthday six months from now.  Perhaps it is also the fact that my daughter Natalie is now walking the halls of Harbor Creek as a student.  As I see her pass by, I wonder if I looked like that when I was her age.  I am excited for all that she will experience, yet want to guard her from all of the heartbreak that she will inevitably encounter during her high school years.

With all that in mind the last few weeks I came across this song.  It is a great tune, with great lyrics, by one of my favorite American Idol contestants.  It is a reminder that time passes quickly but the memories do remain.  Enjoy.

1 comment:

CSR said...

7th grade -- Mrs. Suter's English class -- where our journey began. It would be weird and a bit more affectious sitting there in the school where we built our memories. I'm 35 miles away and still trying to find my way around "the west side". Looking forward to getting together.