Last
weekend was homecoming weekend at UNC-Chapel Hill. Fortunately, the Tar Heels pulled
out a win so most of the frozen spectators who made it ‘til the end of the game
were happy.
One of the
great things about homecoming at a college, church or family reunion is that
you get to see places and folks you haven’t seen for awhile. Memories flood
back and new memories are made.
For the
last ten years, one of my fraternity brothers has had a get-together on the
Friday night before Homecoming Saturday. I’m the youngest one of the group.
Most of the guys are mid- or late-60s, and they joke about the fact that I’m
the pledge so I have to answer the telephone (needless to say, we were in
school before all the hazing was publicized).
It’s great
seeing these guys and seeing/talking about/hearing the commonalities (health
issues, relationships, mortality thoughts and hating what is happening at
UNC-CH) and the differences (various ranges of success, relationships and life
views).
Guys who
were 10-feet tall and bulletproof in college now have a more measured view of
life. Some of the ones who were introverts are now wonderfully outgoing and
full of life.
Most of us
change as time goes by; physically, certainly, but also in how we view life. After
a particularly funny biological moment during a photo session a thought came to
me that sums up what we all learn as life goes on…
When we
look at all the people we come in contact with in life we can break’em down
into two groups; those who spend all their time acting as if life cheesed, and
the ones who act as if life laughed. The best thing is that we get to choose
which one we’re going to be. And, the very best folks are the ones who, when
the first thing happens…they do the second.
Or, is it
the other way around?