Learning - Part 2 - Harding University Digital Archives

-Goodbye to YesterdayLike a great flock of birds wefloated out of the Benson inour billowing caps andgowns, and my eyes stungin the hot May sunshine. At least, Iblamed it on the sun. Standing ontiptoes, I strained to see over the headsof those who surrounded me inalphabetical order - strained to findthe six special and familiar headsamong the swarm of generic caps andtassles.Only two hours earlier we haddressed together, all seven of us in oneroom. We seven friends. We had puton the heavy, musty black gowns andpiled on someone's bed for a picture -all of us laughing and being silly, andready to kill the first one who wouldsuddenly become sober-faced andbegin to say, 'Tm really going to missyou . .." No time for that. Our heartswere too full , like brimming cups. Onedrop, one lopsided, half-sad smile orone quick hand squeeze would send allthat bottled, excited sadness sloshingover the rim. So we were rough witheach other, pushing, tickling, makingfun, but lovingly handling the wornjokes as we mouthed them perhaps forthe last time.I had looked at each one of you inturn, there as we were getting dressed,and had had a hard time keeping upthe facade - laughing with the rest ofyou. I couldn't stop remembering thoselate nights at the end of last semester,when we were all delirious from lack ofsleep, and "borrowed" a residentassistant's key to steal someone'sprized shower thongs, and stood onchairs to rearrange the Christmasdecorations in Stephens lobby. I hadlooked at you six, and seen your facesaround a table at Mazzio's - ourMonday night tradition.I wanted to be excited aboutgraduation, the summer, a job. Butthere in that dorm room I had onlybeen sad because we'd never again getto fight about whether or not to changecafeterias en masse, or what to do on aFriday night, or whose turn it was tosit on whose lap, since we all had tosquash into one car.You six. You had been such anenormous part of my life here; andafter today you would be just a bunchof fond memories and funny stories totell my children. After today youwould be six parts of me, scattered allover America; six parts that, whentorn away, would leave me bleedinginternally, I knew.So as we streamed out of the Bensonin alphabetical order, I hopped up anddown trying to find your six individualyet, somehow, corporate heads. Onlytwo hours earlier we were laughingand touching, but suddenly I felttrapped in a plastic bubble, alreadymiles and miles away from you. Panicmade my pulses pound until I glimpsedyou, clustered on the steps. Mumblingapologies, I pushed my way rudelythrough the flock of gowns until Itumbled into your circle and stoodthere: panti~g and relieved.We were serious then. It was over.OUT parents hovered in thebackground, anxious to get us packedup and on the road. Assorted kidbrothers and sisters fluttered aroundthe perifery of our circle, but we barelynoticed. My eyes stung - not from thesun. We didn't say much, till one ofyou made a stupid joke - one we'dtold each other thousands of times, tillit had lost all humor except by connotation.Funny I that joke never mademe cry before. 1l!I:- Sherry DanielJohn Paul Goodspeed ~ Pine Bluff, AR .Alison Gore - Texarkana, AR. Sociology, family life. Sunshine girl, devotionaldirector for O mega Phi; Bison reporter; England campaigns; Dean's List;National Association of Christians in Social Work ; Petit Jean staff; Outreach;Society for Collegiate lournalists; Social Work Club; SOCiology Club; YoungDemocrats.Julie Ann Grahn - Lakewood, CO . President for Chi Lambda Chi; Alpha Chi;A rt Guild; Bell Canto; Commonwealt h Singers; Dean's List; drama; Reader'sTheater; resident assistant; Sigma Tau Delta.Michael Alan Gravois - New O rleans, LA. Bible. Vice president for King's Men;spring break campaigns; CenArk Student Grotto; Theta Psi beau; Dean's List;Friends; in tamurals; O utreach; Timo thy Club; Summer Dinner Theater; Who'sWho.Ronna Faye Griggs - House Springs, MO. Psychology. Transferred fromMeramer Community College. Chi Alpha Rho; Alpha Chi; Dactylo logy Club;Dean's List; Psi Chi.Andrea Lee Grimm - Auburn, WA. Psychology, office systems. Athletic directorfor Phi Delta; Bell Canto; Commonwealth Si r1'gers; HUF: intramural all-star,volleyball , softball.Teresa O. Grimett - Indianola, MS. N ursing. Transferred from Mississippi Del taJunior College; athletic director, historian for Tri-Sigma Delta; Carribeancampaigns; HSNA , intra mural all-star, jacket; Lady Bison; Sigma Epsilon Chi.Steven Lee Grissim - Brentwood, TN . Marke ting. ICC representative, president,executive council for Titans; Friends; HUF; Marketing Club; SAM.Jeffery L Grow - Coeur d'Alene, 10. Computer science, youth ministry . Vicepresiden t for Sigma Tau Sigma; Chorale.Suzie Louise Gumbs - Christiansted, Saint Cro ix.Barbara Echols Gunter - San Benito, TX . Psychology. lu Go lu; Dean's List ; PiGamma Psi.Stephen Paul Gunter - Ferriday, LA .Donna Jane Gurchiek - Terre Hau te, IN. Social wo rk . ICC representative,devotional director for lu Go lu; Italian campaigns; College Republicans;National Association of Christians in Social Work; Social Work Club.James A. Gurchiek - Terre Ha ute , IN . Special education. Sub-T 16; Dean's List;ASEA.Amy Jo Hall - Burkburnett, TX. Accounting. Theta Psi. Dean's List; in tramurals,all-star; intercollegiate soft ball; All-AlC; Pi Gamma Psi; Resident Assistant.230 Seniors