Grandson Mike, age 10, has already settled on his college of choice – Bowling Green.* Turns out it is the alma-mater of a number of NHL players. To this end Mike has compiled an impressive list of “necessities” to bring along – eight years down the line. If the list seems a bit overblown, keep in mind that he claims that his three best friends will be accompanying him, enrolling in 2019 at BGSU as well:
College Stuff - 1959 Style
My own cache of college necessities in the fall of 1959 was considerably pared down from that of my grandson's. I remember lugging a modest suitcase up the dorm steps and my mom carrying a pillow. Dad followed with my high school gym bag, containing school supplies and toiletries.
Most important, I recall, a small spiral-bound notepad, the dimensions of a credit card, tucked into my back pocket. I thought it might come in handy for jotting down important reminders that were bound to crop up now that I was in college - reminders like the half-dozen addresses I had recently scribbled in the beginning pages. The point was, I intended to write lots of letters while in college - to girls
Epilogue:
1. A disco ball and dance floor
2. Air hockey table, pool table
3. Fooze ball table
4. Ping pong table
5. 3 flat screen TVs
6. A 62 in. couch
7. A Jacuzzi
8. A pet dog
9. Refrigerator
10. A X box
11. Play station 4 with controllers for each
12. 4 skate boards
13. 4 bikes
14. 4 pairs of roller skates
15. 4 laptops plus wifi (wireless)
16. A car (just one???)
17. 4 I phones
18. Colored spotlights
18. Colored spotlights
My own cache of college necessities in the fall of 1959 was considerably pared down from that of my grandson's. I remember lugging a modest suitcase up the dorm steps and my mom carrying a pillow. Dad followed with my high school gym bag, containing school supplies and toiletries.
Most important, I recall, a small spiral-bound notepad, the dimensions of a credit card, tucked into my back pocket. I thought it might come in handy for jotting down important reminders that were bound to crop up now that I was in college - reminders like the half-dozen addresses I had recently scribbled in the beginning pages. The point was, I intended to write lots of letters while in college - to girls
The world of letter writing, especially letter writing to girls, was just one of the new worldly realms I was about to enter. I already had a girlfriend that existed through letters only. She had recently moved from our New York state hometown environs to Florida - Orlando
PO Box 120
In the weeks leading up to actual enrollment my conversation with girls had always included mention of my college mailing address: Lehigh University, PO Box 120, Bethlehem, PA. I gave it to some girls in my town – Warwick, NY - plus to two girls at Greenwood Lake that were standing outside of the arcade, and to the cashier girl at the Middletown (NY) diner, and – believe it or not – to the long-distance operator in Asbury Park, NJ. Yes, I'd be writing lots of letters. I was thinking that there might even be a letter waiting for me at Box, number 120 when I arrived at Lehigh.
In the weeks leading up to actual enrollment my conversation with girls had always included mention of my college mailing address: Lehigh University, PO Box 120, Bethlehem, PA. I gave it to some girls in my town – Warwick, NY - plus to two girls at Greenwood Lake that were standing outside of the arcade, and to the cashier girl at the Middletown (NY) diner, and – believe it or not – to the long-distance operator in Asbury Park, NJ. Yes, I'd be writing lots of letters. I was thinking that there might even be a letter waiting for me at Box, number 120 when I arrived at Lehigh.
But it didn’t matter. I’d start the flow of letters going soon enough. Walking into my dorm I reached back several times to pat my back pocket, checking that the notepad was still there. Of all things, I didn’t want to leave that behind. Still, by the day's standards, I was traveling light.
This was not the case with my own daughters who arrived at college in the mid 1980s with enough paraphernalia to fill a North American Van Lines eighteen wheeler. Of course it was a girl thing to lug along the heavy baggage. Boys were still minimalists by comparison.
I'm not sure what the future holds but if my grand kids are any indication it might be wise to invest in North American Van Lines a little before September of each year.
Since Mike's "college list" I have prompted the other grandchildren to make a list. Here are Eddie's (age 7, 1st item - Max - is the family dog, plus much is heavily borrowed from Mike) and Emma's (age 9). John (4 1/2) simply said he was going to bring books - "big books like Papa has."
Precious.
Ed's "Collage" list: Max, all my hockey pucks, Pool table, air hockey, Wi, XBox 360, Play station
Above is Emma's (age 9) list:
1. toothbrush
2. the game of Life (a board game)
3. my pillow
4. the Harry Potter series
5. pajamas
6. suitcase
7. chap stick
8. hair brush
9. bean bag
10. Clothing
11. journal
12. pencils
13. backpack
14. gum
15. makeup
16. hair beads
17. XBox 360 / Harry Potter Legos ??
18. Wii
19. Wallet
20. fuzzy socks / regular socks
21. calendar
22. pictures
23. TV
24. snacks
25. art supplies
