“Allegiances”

Day 90, #2026bigyearproject

It was not on my radar. My parents were not familiar with its reputation. No one in my close circle had told me anything about it.

But, after getting accepted, I visited the campus with my Uncle George. We got terribly lost on the way, but I eventually found the place where I had an interview with the admissions representative.

As soon as the Quadrangle opened up in front of my widening eyes, my decision was made. This would be home for the next four years.

That was fifty years ago.

I was assigned to Rinconada, an all-freshman dorm. I met my sweet roommate, Lynne, on the day we moved in. We are still friends. Men lived on the first and third floors. Women filled the second floor.

My mom was the first to realize that there were no restrictions on who could wander from floor to floor. She and my dad were aghast. In her nursing school, males had to check in at a reception desk. Guidelines were strict and reinforced.

Their eldest child, a daughter who had grown up in a sheltered (understatement!) environment, was being released into the world - or should I say wild?

I was fortunate that my housemates were a great mix of students from all over the country. Though I was shy, I got to know many of them well. Lots of us still keep in touch. We have had nine reunions since graduating and I have been able to attend several of these wonderful events.

Introductions to new foods, customs, slang, and lifestyles were key to my educational experiences. I studied academic subjects in classrooms. I learned about the world outside of those lecture halls.

The passions of teenagers vary. I could follow whims and choose extracurricular activities by what excited my curiosity. During that first year, I volunteered at the Children’s Hospital, joined a religious organization, played in the symphony, built sets for musical theater productions, developed black and white film and printed photographs, and stayed up much too late talking to friends in our dorm lounge. I can trace many of my current interests to those early days. I am grateful for the array of enticing opportunities that were available. If only I had had the time and energy to explore more topics!

Our dorm began a tradition of spoofing the Greek system. We dubbed ourselves the RincaDelts, a name which we fondly use today. RincaDelts are a loyal bunch.

Here we are, decades later, in a new century. We connect in various ways. I was able to see several of my dear friends last year at our 45th Reunion and during visits. Our hugs are warm, our greetings genuine, and our shared memories extraordinary.

I heard this week that one of our RincaDelt members passed away. That loss has resonated throughout our group. My heart goes out to all who loved him. I am grateful I knew him.

Humans are pack animals. We support, protect, encourage, and amuse each other. We share knowledge, skills, insights, and laughter. It is much more fun to go through adventures with others who lighten our loads, help us with our trials, and remind us of our better selves.

We build communities by linking arms. We sustain each other by providing sanctuaries for our bodies and souls. Sometimes we are lucky to be put into situations where strangers become lifelong companions.

RincaDelts forever!

#2026bigyearproject