I had another post that I had planned to have up for you all today. I had begun writing about my trip to Safed, and some reminiscing, in an effort to maintain my already broken promise of updating every Monday; however, the game plan, as you may say, has changed.
As many of you may know, yesterday, Sunday, January 22, Joe Vincent Paterno passed away. My own predilections should be quite clear by now; however, I would prefer not to speak about recent events. Regardless of anyone’s opinion and in spite of wrongdoing a person may do, it is appropriate, and even expected, to respect the dead. Even in war, the enemy dead are afforded honor in death.
Instead, what I would like to do here, is take you for a special trip down memory lane and my experiences at Penn State. Looking back is something I had wanted to discuss, but not like this.
I cannot claim to recall my first game, nor my last. I remember the game day tradition of forming a human train to get through the massively over-crowded student entrance, and not get separated. I remember standing in the burning sun and the freezing snow to watch the games, never sitting down. Standing there in a cluster with my friends, hollering and shouting until our voices had gone, and continuing to scream and thunder with over a hundred thousand crazy Nittany Lion fans. I still have my blue “S” zone shirt out here in Israel, that I wear to a class with a professor that came from Wisconsin, just because.
I can see the faces of my good friends and roommates, the architects, the engineer and the computer expert. Hell, I remember once going down to Washington D.C. for a game! I had a different ticket and got separated from the group, but the game was great, as was spending even more time with amazing friends (this was after I had graduated).
At the moment it is hard to lock onto any one memory. It’s more or less a blur, and I’m sure I could write a ten page long nonsensical regurgitation of images as they pass me by, like the year I went to see friends who had dressed up as jack skellington and Sally. I also remember working a number of games in support of the karate club. I had forgotten about that until now, working in those little shacks at the edge of the ramps selling food and drinks. Felt good to do something for the club, but how I miss those opportunities to go back. As much as I love PSU, I can’t say that the games mean as much as they used to.
Several years in a row I spent with friends on New Years and while he had a great big new year’s celebration, the next morning was a Penn State celebration (well, not always... damn USC). To me Penn State has always been about community. Even when I was at my parents home, the only one awake and I was watching some Penn State game. I don’t remember who against, I just remember it came down to overtime. We missed, they missed, we missed I shouted! Not long later my father came in to check me and make sure everything was alright. Even as far as Israel I was watching Penn State, albeit on the play by play by ESPN (Which by the way, is absolutely terrible way to watch a game!). Since it took a little to refresh itself, the last five minutes must have taken at least fifteen. I was as rigid as a board, tense as an over strung guitar.
Even now, I know that regardless of how I may feel any day, I have a Penn State community the world over (You’d be surprised where I’ve found PSU fans and alumni in my Euro-trip). So I just want to conclude with this thought from Ghandi. “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” It doesn’t have to be anything large. A smile here, a good morning there, even a hug to a friend in need. Every single person has the capacity for great deeds with only the lips of their face; brightening a day with a smile and the ability to reassure the nervous, and comfort the grieving. I love you Penn State, and all of your children. Four your founders, strong and great. For the future that we wait, let us aim to make it a better one.
So I’ll actually leave you all with a challenge. I want every single one of you to make at least one person smile today. Ideally more than one, but go out of your way to brighten someone’s day. We are the change...
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