It's been a few years!

I make no bones about it, I loved my time at SUU, but it has been a long, long time since I have made it back for any activities.  After I left SUU in 1996, I went back a few times that first year after, I had a great time, but to be honest, it was hard to go back.  It was difficult to go back and see my friends continue with their collegiate lives without me.  Don't get me wrong, I knew it was going to happen, but it was just too hard to see them enjoying life without me.  Well, after time even my friends left and it was harder to find excuses to return.  Despite one of my very best friends of all time, calling me and asking me to come back for Homecoming, I found excuses not to return.  This year my excuses ran out.  Well it was more or less a perfect storm for me.  It wasn't the opening weekend of any hunt, my niece was at SUU and worked on many of the Homecoming Events and it is the 20 year Reunion of my Fraternity being on the SUU Campus.

Driving home this morning I couldn't help but wonder why I had not come back sooner?  I had such a great time!  The Alumni office has done a fantastic job coming up with events to bring alumni back for homecoming.  Friday night was "Forever Red" where bands played on the quad, they had food and a whole bunch of mixing and mingling.  I went to a student government reunion, and also to a mixer for Sigma Chi.

Saturday morning Emeritus Professors from the University cook pancakes for anyone that wants to come by.  This is a great event, even if you don't like pancakes it is a good time to visit and catch-up with old friends (and professors) while waiting for the homecoming parade to start.  The parade ended just in time to make it to the stadium for tailgating with friends old and new. 

After a great SUU victory, I had just enough time to get catch a shower and change for the Sigma Chi dinner.  The Sigs always know how to put on a great event!  Dinner was awesome and it is so amazing to visit with Sigma Chi Brothers that have been in and out of the Fraternity during the last 20 years.  I was able to enjoy dinner with some great people much younger than me.  Despite years of separation, we all had something in common and it was comfortable visiting with them and sharing stories from a million years ago!   

This morning I had the opportunity to take my niece to breakfast at Market Grill.  Such comfort food!  Good to know that nothing has changed.  Their hash browns have just the right amount of crisp to them!  As we were paying the bill, the lady at the register asked if it was my first time at the Grill.  I told her I was just reliving old memories, but that it was Amber's first time.  She looked at Amber and said "This is just like home, honey!"  Such typical friendliness of Cedar City.  I loved that I spent my collegiate years in Cedar City at SUU and I am glad my niece is there now and she seems to be having a great experience as well.

The weekend was great and definitely gave me memories that I will undoubtedly treasure for years to come.