Last night Chris Hostetler and I went to a UNC Alumni-Student Networking Reception at the Alumni Center. (Afterwards Chris asked me why I wanted to go, and I had no good answer--but that's another story.) I had a few interesting experiences that I'll share:

1) I noticed that there was a familiar wooden elephant on the wall in the staircase. I asked about it and the girl at the reception desk outside the Carolina Club said confirmed that it was the same wooden elephant that I remember from the Carolina Inn when it used to have a cafeteria that my grandmother would take me to as a very small child. She said the Alumni Center had bought them when the Carolina Inn was renovated years ago.

2) When Chris and I got on the elevator going to the reception, an old man, who reminded me of the grandfather on silver spoons besides his old red puffer jacket from the seventies that he was wearing, go ton the lift with us. He was kind of scowling at me and finally he said in an angry tone, "Do I know you?" I said no, and thinking he was on his way to the reception, I stuck out my hand and offered my name. He just stood there scowling, so after a minute, I took my hand away, and he immediately stuck out his hand. So I tried again to shake hands, at which point he pulled his hand away! Confused, I put my hand down and he offered his hand again… and then pulled it away again just as I tried to shake it! It was one of the most bizzar interactions.

3) The reception went pretty well. I'm not sure that I really connected with anyone that will be a great resource for me, but I did meet a girl who recegnized me from IV (she had been involved with waymaker) and she now goes to the Bible Church, so perhaps she will turn out to be a future friend to Brooklynne and me.

4) One lady I met, named Nina asked me what I do for personal growth. My answer was blogging... kind of creepy, but this has been a great forum for working through my thoughts and exploring what's important to me--one I haven't used nearly enough lately.

5) Just as time was winding down on the event, this old guy (UNC class of 1947) collapsed on the floor and had to have the paramedics come and check him out. It was really scary, but I think the guy was alright.

Well, my wife is in CO this week, so I'm batchin' it up. I miss her though, so here's a blast from the past. I think this was taken almost 5 years ago. Time flies.