This weekend I was blessed with a double whammy Homecoming experience. Friday was the Riverview High School Homecoming football game. My daughter was passing out programs for student council, so I decided to attend. Believe it or not, I had never before attended a football game at my high school. Not even when I was a student there. So I figured I might as well. It has been over two decades since I graduated!

It was quite a crowded place! I am not a huge fan of being in large groups of people. I tend to feel a bit claustrophobic if I am ‘boxed’ in by strangers. I spent most of the first half giving myself a pep-talk that basically sounded like this, “Calm down. No, you are not leaving early. Soph wants to be here. You are  fine.”

The highlight was definitely the Mini Cheerleaders. I am sure, had I actually known any of the kids on the homecoming court, I would think otherwise. But I didn’t, so the best part was seeing the littlest of girls in their Raider gear. They were all so excited to be out on the field and cheering for the crowd!!!

I eventually found myself distracted (after half time) by a friend who was also there. We chatted and things lightened up a great deal. After the game was over, the high school band performed two songs. They did a great job and I was glad I had stayed. Soph and I got in the car, fought our way out of the post-game traffic and came home.

Then in the morning, after not nearly enough sleep, I had breakfast with my sweetie and his family. FYI, any day that begins with a pumpkin pie bagel and laughter is destined to be a great day!

After that, I meandered my way on back roads to the lovely village of Bethany, WV. The drive was beautiful, as the leaves are all midst-color change. They are vibrant and gorgeous! It was remarkable, in spite of it having been 20 years since my graduation, that I still knew the way without question. Every little turn and hill will forever be embedded in my mind.

To say that Bethany is small would be an understatement. I believe it has a slogan that is something like, “A small college of national distinction” or something like that. It is small. Very, very small. There were about 250 students in my class. Most high schools are bigger than that. The size is what drew me to visit the campus. The campus was what compelled me to attend. It is beautiful. Simply lovely.

My first stop, after a potty break, was to visit the college bookstore. I have not owned any Bethany College apparel in a very long time. It was time to remedy that! I found an awesome hoodie and a cute t-shirt that fit the bill!

From there, I left my car down on the main campus and walked over to the Field House. Unless you have been there, saying I walked over really won’t mean to you what it should. Basically, I hiked…. up and down hills, down cement steps (behind the library) over a food bridge and up another steep hill to finally get there. I managed to find friends from that point on!

Although I did not play softball in college, I was a very faithful fan. I have always been included in their homecoming tent, which makes me feel loved! They had an amazing spread of food and beverages. Coach Forsty was on hand to chat and welcome people back. (She looks amazing, by the way!) She is still teaching and Coaching at Bethany.

The highlight of tailgating was probably watching Mel dance Gangnam style… only Mel can pull that off!

I joined my class for the group picture. I signed in and got my commemorative 20th reunion plate (to go with another plate and mug from other years) and enjoyed all sorts of tail gating food and drink. The stories and beverages flowed!

After the game, I went with friends to visit our old dorms. My sorority is no longer active on campus and our house is now occupied by a fraternity. Although I knew of it, it still stung a bit to see in person. Other changes abounded… including steps in place of what used to be the most ridiculously steep sidewalk that we called ‘cardiac’ but are now referred to as the ‘greek steps.’

After that, we proceeded to ‘the bar.’ You need to understand that the town of Bethany is tiny too. There is a general store (Chamber’s) and another sort of general store (College Inn) as well as a bar (The Bison Inn) that we always called ‘Bubba’s’ after the very large man who owned it. He took up two bar stools. No lie.

Bubba is no more, RIP, but the bar is still very much the same. I had my obligatory chicken hoagie… it was not as good as I remember. Is that because my taste buds have become more sophisticated? Or maybe because I am no longer stuck with cafeteria food as my only source of food? Who knows….

Lots more stories and laughter continued for hours. We moved the party to the Alumni house… a new feature on campus. More stories and laughter there… When the group was preparing to return to the bar (hey! I’m old now!) around 10pm, I took that as my cue to drive home!

Now, as I sit on Facebook, I am enjoying all the pictures that other alumni are posting. So much fun!!  I guess I shouldn’t wait 20 years to visit again!