Morning seems to come too quickly. I load my laundry into the car, kiss Mom and Dad goodbye and begin my journey back to school. I arrive in the early afternoon and tidy up a bit prior to Rona’s arrival. After all, she has a longer drive from Savannah and will probably have just enough time to put away her clothes and crawl into bed. She arrives in the early evening and we exchange stories about our family traditions and our shopping excursions.

                The rest of the fall semester seemed to fly by. With only a few exams and then finals to take, I buckled down and really placed a focus on finishing strong. With Rona’s help, I was able to make “B’s” in Biology and Chemistry and was able to earn “A’s” in English and Math. We decided to return to our own homes for Christmas break and vowed to plan a trip for spring break together.

                Mom and Dad were pleased with the idea of a family portrait and my brother absolutely loved his watch. I decided to send Rona’s gift in the mail so she would have a package to open. She called the following day to say how excited she was to get back to practicing yoga in her new attire. I agreed to go with her to a few classes upon our return to Vanderbilt in January.

                With the Christmas holiday being quite longer, there was more time to spend in reflection for choosing a major. It was suggested that we choose a direction for our studies at the beginning of our sophomore year. I decided to declare early in the spring semester and would choose accounting. Dad was thrilled and offered to help me gain some experience by doing the books for the family business during my summer breaks. The decision seemed to help me gain a concrete vision for my time spent in college. Since that decision was made, I was able to enjoy my Christmas break with less stress.

                My father always felt that it was important to reward your employees. Between Christmas and New Year’s, he scheduled a gathering each year for the company’s employees and their families. A nice dinner was served followed by company bonuses, a small gift for each household for the children, and a gift card to eat at a local restaurant was given to each employee. Being a small business owner, my father chose a different small restaurant each year for the gift cards. I always enjoyed this gathering as you get to know the people and their families. They are not just employees, but the people around my father in the trenches each day who make him successful. To them he is eternally grateful.

                The New Year’s holiday came quickly and I decided to spend it with some friends from high school. This year, we went to the top of Mill Mountain where the Roanoke star is located. It stands nearly one hundred feet tall and is illuminated in red, white and blue. Roanoke has been appropriately named the “Star City of the South.” It was a cold January eve, but we decided nonetheless to brave the weather until midnight. I thought to myself many times about how I could be at home, sipping on hot chocolate next to Mom as we watched the ball drop in New York City. As a young college student, you tend to do many things that perhaps you would rather have opted out of looking back.

                With only twelve days left on my Christmas break, I made sure to spend plenty of time with my parents. Certainly they missed me too while I was away in Nashville. While subtle, I could see a change happening in me as I braved the new world of independence. Enjoying home cooked food was at the top of my list for the remainder of my time at home. Mom and I spent what seemed to be an exorbitant amount of time in the kitchen. I have always enjoyed cooking and learned it well from my mother. She always placed a high importance on feeding my father and keeping him healthy. It was never uncommon to have a few courses served at dinner and occasionally dessert. I believe wholeheartedly that cooking with fresh ingredients and cooking for yourself will increase the likelihood of longevity. Fruits, vegetables and fresh ingredients; preferably from a local grocer.

                Returning to Vanderbilt after a relaxing Christmas break seemed hard. I had spent many nights sitting in the living room by the fireplace with a cup of hot chocolate, something I would surely miss, now being confined again to a small dormitory room. My classes were much the same. Rona was happy to be taking Biology and Chemistry as these would be the hallmark of her classes going forward. I was less enthused. I did feel at peace with my decision to major in accounting as this took some of the guesswork out of my coursework going forward.

                It was not long before spring break came. Rona and I had planned a trip along with two upperclassmen to go to Aspen, Colorado, to ski. While I am not a fan of the cold, I do enjoy the outdoors and agreed to go, knowing I could bundle up and hopefully enjoy the slopes. In March, the average snowfall is Aspen is roughly thirty inches, give or take. The months preceding are what usually make for a nice base of snow for the slopes. I am not much of a skier, but I agreed to get out on the slopes for one or two days during the seven day vacation. Ideally, I will spend more of my time pampering myself in the spas, hot tubs and our cozy hotel room.

                We stayed at Hotel Jerome. The hotel provides the exact amount of amenities I am looking for, a stylish restaurant, and upscale bar and the spa. I felt a bit jet-lagged from the flight so I decided to sleep in the first morning. Rona was eager to hit the slopes and was out the door by 7:30 A.M. I stayed in bed until 9:00 A.M. and bundled up for a morning walk down Main Street. It was not long before I found myself sipping on a latte in the Main Street Bakery & Café.  After finishing my latte, I order a regular coffee and eggs benedict. I am surprised by the café’s ability to make such a delicate breakfast item extraordinary. I surmise that it is a tourist town such as Aspen that warrants a proper chef even in a small café.

                I roam the streets for a while and find myself in Harmony Scott Jewelry Design shop. I am dazzled by the handmade and exquisite jewelry on display. While I love diamonds, I have always been a fan of watches, necklaces and bracelets as well. I spend what seems like hours looking around and decide it is time for lunch. I returned to the dining hall in Hotel Jerome. The Open Faced Spicy Tuna “Melt” seems appealing, so I order and wait impatiently for its arrival. Twenty-four dollars seems a bit pricey for an afternoon lunch, but it pales in comparison to what I am about to spend at the spa. A full body treatment runs three hundred dollars, but I’m worth it!

                Rona returned about 5:00 P.M. after a long day on the slopes. The four of us went to dinner at Finbarr’s Irish Pub.  I had heard from a local that the salmon was the item to order, so I was easily persuaded. Rona seemed more interested in the Guinness on tap. She was sore and I was feeling more like a rejuvenated jellyfish. We elected to sit at a table for dinner and then attempt to make our way to the bar for the remainder of the evening.  The décor is what I would call “rustic-chic”. There are chandeliers for lighting, brick and wood on the exterior walls, but the bar area seems more modern with teardrop lighting illuminating the green apple colored chairs. Chatting with the locals until 11:00 P.M., we decide to get into bed before turning into midnight snowflakes.

I decided to write a short postcard before bed.

Mom,

Our first day in Aspen has been a glorious one. Surrounded by the snow-capped mountains, one seems small in comparison. There must be something to the Rocky Mountains, as I am enthralled by the beauty of this place. In April they have a Food & Wine festival which I have vowed to return for someday, perhaps with someone special. As usual, I am missing home as the fireplace in the hotel lobby where I can sip on a hot chocolate in the evening is not near the same as being at home.

Stephanie

                The rest of the week was as relaxing as the first day. I managed to leave Aspen with not too many bumps and bruises. The slopes were plush and not as easy to conquer as one might imagine. I did manage to traverse the elementary offerings without much trouble. Our flight was scheduled to leave on Saturday afternoon, giving us ample time to rest on Sunday.

                Classes resumed on Monday and it seemed hard to focus for the rest of the spring semester. Thoughts of Aspen and the mountains seemed to invite their way into my subconscious during my studies. I finished the year with a 3.5 GPA; well above what even I believed was possible. I thanked Rona time and time again for her help in Biology and Chemistry. As we said our goodbyes, we promised each other that we would get together over the summer. We also were excited at the fact that we would be roommates again in the fall as we had developed a strong bond.

                That summer I began working for my father doing the books for his engineering firm. It was hard at first, but I began after about a month to see where things fell into place. It gave me a sense of accomplishment and self-confidence to know that I would have a basic understating of my classes in the fall. My core classes in the fall would include Accounting I, so I was determined to be fully prepared. My father allowed me to ease into the work and gave me what seemed to be tougher assignments each week. By mid-summer, I was doing account receivables, accounts payable and payroll. It gave me a sense of pride to see each of the employees putting in long hours and having the ability to sign their paychecks. Handing them each a paycheck on Friday afternoon became my favorite part of the job. The only paycheck that I didn’t see and sign was my father’s. Not that he was secretive and intended to hide information. On the contrary, he just felt that I needed to know that we as a family were always provided for…the amount was indifferent.

                Working regular bankers’ hours, I had time to enjoy my summer as well. I was home in time to help Mom in the kitchen prior to Dad’s arrival at 6:00 P.M. He was always the first in the office and the last to leave. He would not allow a single employee to work past 5:00 P.M., as he believed that they should have time in the evening to spend with their families.  On Wednesdays they were allowed to leave at 4:30 P.M., in order to have time to make it to church, and my father rarely allowed any of his staff to work on Saturdays.

                I was given a week off along with the rest of the employees around and encompassing Independence Day. I had persuaded Mom and Dad to allow me to visit Rona in Savannah. The drive to Georgia was arduous, but as I was greeted outside of Rona’s Savannah home it felt like a sort of homecoming. I was welcomed with open arms. That evening was much like our first evening at college. We stayed up nearly all night swapping stories about our summer to date. Rona was volunteering at a local family practice office. She loved sitting in with the physician and her patients and knew she has chosen the correct path for her studies at Vanderbilt. I too felt like I was doing work that would make me happy upon graduation.

                On Saturday morning, we packed up the car and along with her parents and traveled to nearby Tybee Island where their beach home was situated. It was much like an “A-Frame” with three levels. From my room I could walk out onto a covered balcony with a sitting area and a ceiling fan to provide a cool breeze in the evening if the weather was less than desirable. I am someone who likes to be comfortable…not too hot, not too cold. There was a pier going out into the ocean and a lighthouse nearby. In the morning, it was easy to see clear water for what seemed like an eternity. The sea gulls were plentiful, but not harassing. I awoke each morning at 5:30 A.M. so I could see the dolphins swimming. I walked the pier each night and would look up to the lighthouse and wander if anyone was standing atop overlooking the ocean.

                Rona and I practiced yoga on the beach each morning before breakfast and she would typically join me each evening for a walk along the pier. I was neither as well equipped nor adept as Rona at yoga, but I made a valiant effort. Instead in the early evening, I found myself running along the beach for some extra exercise; something I do much better. As we would walk along the pier each evening, Rona and I would discuss how we felt life would be like after college. How long would it be until we got married? Would we have a house full of children, boys or girls? What would our husbands do for a living? The questions seemed endless without any concrete answers, but we pondered away.

                On July 4th we traveled back into Savannah for the evening for the fireworks display. Savannah in the evening is beautiful as itself, and the fireworks display only added a layer of sophistication to this monumental day. Many times I have wondered how our country has come so far and at the same time drifted so far away from the values laid out by our Founding Fathers. Nonetheless, the fireworks were abundant and furious above River Street down by the waterfront. Patriotic music was played in sequence with the display and the streets were alive with vendors, regional artisans and live entertainment.

                A few more days were spent at the beach and then it was time to return to Roanoke. I would have only nine weeks left to work with my father before returning to Vanderbilt. As always, I made the most of my time at home. I could have spent more time with friends, perhaps; but it was the time spent with my mother and father in the evening that I cherished most. When my brother was not 10,000 feet above sea level, we made time for hiking or biking. He too, is someone I hold close to my heart. There is something unique about an older brother. A comforter, a protector, a friend.

                When I returned to college, I knew I would be in for three years of hard work. I had learned a lot from working alongside my father in his business. Accounting I was a challenge, but I had laid a good foundation for myself at home during the summer. Rona too was headlong into the major classes for her Pre-Med studies. That semester, we would not see much of each other besides the occasional dinner in the dining hall. Her classes were mostly in the science building and mine in the building for the College of Business.

                One evening as I exited my classroom after a long day there was a gentleman whom I had being seeing regularly throughout the halls. He had caught my eye on many occasions and it seemed that on this evening we would have the opportunity to chat. I was waiting behind him at the vending machine as a Hershey bar had become a regular snack for me in the evenings. He introduced himself by saying that he had also noticed me throughout the day. His name was Graham. He was a senior and would soon be entering the workforce as he would graduate this semester. We exchanged a few words and I soon found out that he too lived in Roanoke. His family lived in southwest Roanoke on Richelieu Drive, a street I was familiar with. We had attended different schools as I grew up in Fincastle, just outside of Roanoke even though I call Roanoke home. It is easier for people to recognize. His father was a public accountant in town and he had hoped to enter the family business upon graduation. After a few minutes, I returned along with my evening snack to my dormitory room.

                I couldn’t wait to tell Rona about Graham. He had an average build with light blue eyes, dark jet black hair and a million dollar smile. He carried himself with confidence, spoke well and dressed well. One could immediately tell that he came from an affluent family. While premature, that night Rona and I talked about the possibility of dating him. It was ironic but would be convenient. I would have someone to spend time with during the summer months. That night, I dreamed what life might be like married to an accountant. Someone with stability was something that I longed for in a family of my own.

                As the months passed, we talked more each day. We were no longer just passing each other in the hallway. I learned that he was a Virginia Tech football fan which is something we both had in common. My father received his engineering degree from Virginia Tech and had held season tickets for years.  Near the end of the semester, we had agreed that we would get together over the summer break and possibly an invite might be extended to a football game in the fall.

                It was nice at this point in my life to have a certain naivety with respect to relationships. While I had dated in high school, I never allowed myself – and my father hadn’t either – to get serious with a male companion. My father believed that dating in college was certainly soon enough. I found myself thinking of Graham on the drive from Nashville to Roanoke for summer break. I had made a 4.0 GPA that first semester of my sophomore year and was pleased to be able to share with my family that small success. As I returned home and settled in I wondered how long it would be before he would call. Would he call? And if so, how soon? I decided not to have any expectation about the issue, as it would only cause grief if the call never came.