Florida State University Alumni Call

I received a postcard in the mail the other day from Florida State. I graduated with a bachelor of science in Nursing. They want to update the alumni information for the directory, so I called and talked to a gentleman. Since we moved last year, a few items really needed to be changed. And, I have retired since the last information was published. The one question The caller asked was to name something I remembered about attending FSU. I used to tutor some of the basketball players and attended all the games for free - and that was when FSU was #2 in the country after UCLA. The basketball players and coaches all came to a party at my house after a Christmas tournament. I didn’t think much of it then, but can’t believe it now given all the March Madness “madness!”  Anyway, after the call I was compelled to dig though some of my momentos - a few basketball handbooks, two publications with my photo on the cover, my diploma,  my student nurse name pin, FSU nursing pin, and the two green and one red ribbons that are placed on your nurses’ cap. One green means a junior, two greens mean a senior, and upon graduation, the official nursing ribbon is garnet. I can’t believe it’s been 45 years since I graduated from FSU. It feels like yesterday. Look what a postcard can do. 

Florida State Alumni Association Update Request

I really liked Florida State and Tallahassee. I am still in contact with a couple folks and oftentimes remember the experiences of having the opportunity to go to college - three of us at one time. It's been forty years since I graduated! It feels like just a few short seasons ago. I got a postcard in the mail to call a number to ensure the contact information for an alumni publication was correct. Once the details were covered - address, work title and general pleasantries, the sales pitch started. The hard copy version of the alumni directory was something in the thirty dollar range in two installments. I said I wasn't interested. How about a paperback version for half? No thanks. How about a CD with just your graduation date? Not at this time - I'll think about it. Did you get the last version that was printed in 2005? I don't remember. We moved to DC ten years ago and dumped just about everything. In this day and age of digital correspondence, the last thing I want is a hard copy of anything. She said this would be the only time the directory could be ordered. Well, I guess I'll miss out. I suppose it's a donation in disguise, but I prefer to make those when I feel like it. I still really like FSU - but not for these types of things. 

The Florida State University T Shirt

I went to Florida State University. I went with the intention of majoring in history, but ended up with a nursing degree. It became my choice because of the economy and job market - not because I was in love with nursing. In the end it served me well over a thirty year health care career. While a student at FSU I was featured on the cover of the directory and marketing bulletin, I tutored several basketball players at the time our team was #2 only behind the powerhouse UCLA, and really enjoyed my time in Tallahassee. Of course along the way I owned FSU clothing - and particularly liked one T shirt. It was proudly worn outside the house for a while, then became an indoor garment, then finally relegated to a night shirt. It has traveled all over the world! It is with great regret that I may need to finally dispose of the old thing - but not until it really falls apart. It hardly matters where you live, and it's not really the shirt itself. It's more about the reminders of the past. And in this instance they were all good!