I am getting ready to take a trip to what is perhaps my favorite city because some of the best years of my life were spent there. Cape Girardeau, MO is a town of 30 or 40 thousand people, more when Southeast Missouri State University is in session. I got my bachelors and master's degree at Cape. I went through a lot of firsts at Cape. My first true love. My first taste of independence. Some other firsts were not so good, so I won't go into those in this entry. I still love the town. It is roughly 72 miles from where I live, and it's nestled on the Mississippi River. There are plenty of shops and places to visit without it having that "city" air to it. I love the place.
Anyway, my daughter is now attending Southeast Missouri State University there, and like me, is going to become an English teacher. When I see how much the college has changed -- yet stayed the same -- I am overwhelmed with both nostalgia and amazement at the same time. The building where I spent most of my time Grauel Language Arts, is still the main English building. It doesn't look any different.
When I started at SEMO, I guess I was 19. Time has a way of slipping by just like the Mississippi River slips on by on its way to New Orleans and eventually into the gulf. Would I like to be 19 again? I don't know for sure if I would or not. As long as my spirit is 19, I guess that's good enough.
Anyway, I look forward to spending the day with my daughter and taking care of the business we need to take care of. While in Cape, I might even take a quick glance into the mirror of my past. Would I laugh, smile, or cry if I saw the 19 year old me staring back at me.
Anyway, my daughter is now attending Southeast Missouri State University there, and like me, is going to become an English teacher. When I see how much the college has changed -- yet stayed the same -- I am overwhelmed with both nostalgia and amazement at the same time. The building where I spent most of my time Grauel Language Arts, is still the main English building. It doesn't look any different.
When I started at SEMO, I guess I was 19. Time has a way of slipping by just like the Mississippi River slips on by on its way to New Orleans and eventually into the gulf. Would I like to be 19 again? I don't know for sure if I would or not. As long as my spirit is 19, I guess that's good enough.
Anyway, I look forward to spending the day with my daughter and taking care of the business we need to take care of. While in Cape, I might even take a quick glance into the mirror of my past. Would I laugh, smile, or cry if I saw the 19 year old me staring back at me.
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| The New Memorial Bridge reminds me how Cape is the link between my past, present, and future. |
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