A Bit of Nostalgia

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     Last weekend Alenda and I were in Ithaca, New York, visiting our granddaughter Jadyn (she is the lacrosse goalie, see musing of May 5th). Jadyn is just beginning her freshman year at Ithaca College, where she expects to continue her sports career as goalie for the Ithaca Bombers. Fifty-five years ago, Alenda and I were also students here, but our school was the one across town, Cornell University. 

     Of course, some friendly (and at times not-so-friendly) competition exists between the two schools, so Alenda and I had a bit of fun with that with Jadyn. It is interesting that Jadyn’s first cousin, Jennifer, went to Ithaca College. Our other granddaughter, Kaley, is in her first year at York College, in York, PA. Her first cousins, Julie and Mark, preceded her there. I guess our family likes to continue on familiar paths when it comes to colleges.

     As expected, there is a great deal of change from when we were here. One of the biggest is in downtown Ithaca. State street was the main avenue through the center of Ithaca then, configured much like any other city street, with traffic lights to control vehicles and parking places to allow access to the businesses along the way. 

     Now the downtown section of State Street is closed to vehicles, replaced by a walking concourse (The Commons shown above) that is much more pleasant to experience. Last night was the first evening of AppleFest, featuring numerous street vendors along what used to be State Street. Alenda and I enjoyed meandering with Jadyn though them all, with Alenda taking advantage of the chance to buy Jadyn a small gift at one of them.

 At one point we stopped for dinner, and as I looked out at the crowd, my thoughts turned to memories of our life there between 1967 and 1973. Here are some highlights:

    1. Getting married in November 1967, and Alenda moving from our     

         hometown of Woodstown, NJ, to join me in an apartment   

         in Ithaca.

    2. The birth of our first child, Chuck, in May of 1968.

    3. Purchase of a brand-new mobile home that summer for $4,000,   

         completely furnished.

    4. Taking a part time job working as a “handyman” for the owner of 

         the mobile home park, and then learning valuable lessons in 

        plumbing, electricity, pouring concrete, and other tasks associated 

        with providing service to inhabitants of the park.

      5. My parents giving us a new Ford Maverick when I was accepted  

        into veterinary college in 1969. Price was $1995.00.

      6. The birth of our second child, Tanya, in 1971

     7. Alenda and I both pursuing our college education, with her 

        graduating from the College of Human Ecology in 1972, and me 

        from the veterinary school in 1973.

Some things have changed very little. A favorite restaurant back in our college days was Taughannock Farms Inn. It is still in operation, (the only one of several favorites) and we went to dinner there Saturday night with Jadyn. One change was that menus are now provided, compared to the waite staff reciting the choices fifty years ago. The view of Cayuga Lake is still striking, and the food is still excellent.

     One sad aspect of our visit was going back to the mobile home park. The main section is now empty, overgrown by volunteer trees and shrubs. I have been told that the septic systems, always suspect even back in the day, failed so often that the board of health ruled that when someone left the park, that unit could not be replaced. Seeing a once vibrant community of two hundred families now abandoned and ugly was depressing.

     The most exciting part of the visit was watching Jadyn perform in her first college lacrosse game. It was unofficial between the current team and a group of alumni. It was the highest scoring lacrosse game I’ve ever seen, with the final score 19-15, with the current students triumphant.

     On Sunday, Alenda and I walked about through some of the gorgeous scenery in Ithaca, one example of which appears above.  Then we proceeded north to visit  Dr. Gary Cooke, a vet school classmate, my first cousin, Rachel Moulton, and will wrap up this little junket by catching up with Sue Sardi, another friend from college days.

     People our age often remark about how quickly the years pass. Going back to our college town, and visiting our granddaughter in her freshman year, certainly validated that sentiment. How is it with you and yours?