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. 

An Old FSU Biology Lab Partner

It’s been almost 46 years since I took the first biology class required for a nursing, dental, or medicine major at Florida Stare University. With that class came a lab; with that lab came a lab partner; and the experiment had something to do with fiddler crabs, hormones, eyestalks, and circadian rhythms. It also required staying up all night to make hourly checks on the chromatophores of the crabs under a dissecting microscope. I remember it all because I still have the typed paper dated December 11, 1972 with the name of my lab partner. So I looked him up and found the good dentist in Florida. I sent him four pages of the paper and asked him if it looked familiar? From there we shared a very pleasant chat about life so many years after the fact. It feels like yesterday that I worked with the tow haired young man with the dark rimmed glasses - back in style these days. It’s so nice to learn most of the people I knew back then from high school or college seem adjusted and happy with things. In fact, I still have connections with the professor who taught that biology class. Both my lab partner and I agree Dr. Tschinkel was a wonderful instructor - although when we presented the results of our experiment I remember feeling quite overwhelmed with what seemed to be extraordinary questions! It’s for these reasons and memories that I love the internet. It was great chatting with you Paul! 

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. 

Fulton County Fair - Arthur, Hurley and Gottlieb

Driving home to DC from Milwaukee took us through Indiana and then Ohio. I was taking a lot of barn and farm photos and thinking about how life is so different in "these parts" compared to where we live now. Then we passed by a barn that said Fulton County, and it reminded me of a song I remembered from my college days at FSU called "Fulton County Fair." And wouldn't you know, a sign appeared that read Fulton County Fair, but I wasn't fast enough to get a quick photo. Then I looked up Arthur, Hurley, and Gottlieb - a trio of what I'll call blue grass musicians who played at the small downstairs cafe of sorts in the Union at FSU. I loved their music, but I think the group was short lived. I actually had one, if not two, of their albums. I don't know if this was the Fulton County they were referring to, but it reminded me of a time so long ago!!! So I played it for my husband, but we couldn't really hear it in the car on the iPhone but I heard it in my head. Great memories are found in the strangest places! I wonder where they are now?

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!