Dropping Ashes on the Bridge: Definitions: Do You Think about Me Now and Then?

This weekend sees my fellow Georgetown alums descend upon the Hilltop for Homecoming Weekend 2010. And for the first time in my admittedly short alum life, I won’t be making the trip. From what I hear, there are a few others like myself who can’t make it out to Washington, DC and I definitely feel their pain. There is scarcely any place in the world I’d rather be this weekend than on 37^th and O.

As a result, many of you will have seen me go on my extended Homecoming Hatred campaign over the last week or so. But, of course, this was rooted not in hate but envy. I wish I could be joining my Georgetown family much like I did last year. But still it’s no reason for me to get all salty. Instead it’s more useful to reflect on four years spent on the Hilltop that contributed significantly to who I am today. I still remember all of the sugarcoated, extra-hyper grandeur that was thrown my way during NSO in 2005. But one thing that stuck was the claim that “the next four years will be some of the most important and most memorable years of your life.”

I’m not one for hyperbole but those words definitely rang through throughout the course of the four years that followed. The things I learned in my time at Georgetown can’t really be put into words. But I can assuredly say that I developed several facets of my life—academically, socially, culturally and even emotionally. I wonder how I would’ve turned out if I were to have ended up in, say, another college in the States. Or if I had followed through on going to this university in Germany where I had actually already sent my enrollment deposit. I imagine things would’ve turned out very differently. I know school pride (read: bias) goes a long way in determining these things but I wouldn’t trade my time at Georgetown for anywhere else. This isn’t born out of the delusion that Georgetown is one of the top universities in the world. It isn’t. But I do believe that it offers a very rare blend of strong academia and a relatively vibrant social life (even though the latter was in sharp decline ever since the notorious Henle 1 night). I don’t think other schools have both good academics and a good social life. From what I’ve seen it’s usually one or the other. (Disclaimer: I’m counting sports in social life, too because we all know going to Georgetown basketball games was like an extended five-hour party).

Add to that the fact that Georgetown is nestled in the corner of Washington, DC and you get an endless stream of memories worthy of being retold to grandkids. I can count at least one memory for every year that I will not soon forget and will, if I have the chance, be telling my grandchildren about one day.

- Freshman Year: 21 January 2006. #1 Duke 84 – Georgetown 87.

One word: PANDEMONIUM! I lost my glasses and had bruises from jumping up and down like a mad man but it wasn’t even relevant that day.

- Sophomore Year: 25 March 2007. #2 Georgetown 96 - #1 North Carolina 84.

I remember watching this game in Henle with Chuck, Juan and Garvey (I think). Everything was a blur because we were all so tense. But some of the few things I remember are Jon’s three towards the end of regulation, DaJuan’s dunk in OT and Tay crying his heart out on the bench. Unreal. And that’s not even accounting for the madness that ensued afterwards. Kegs were being thrown. People were running in no general direction. And then everyone ran to the White House! Legendary. (Disclaimer: I skipped the run to the White House because I was being a square.)

- Junior Year: This has nothing to do with Georgetown (not directly anyway) but at some point in August of 2007 I went down to K street to catch Rush Hour 3 with Jordan. As we sat down towards the front of the theater, we noticed two guys who walked in right as the movie started and it was dark inside. It wasn’t until they sat down right in front of us, though, that we realized one of the guys wad Dave Chapelle. And the reason this makes the list is because for me Dave Chapelle is the funniest man alive bar none. And to sit and watch Rush Hour and look for the parts he found funny was in itself funnier than the movie! We tried to get a picture afterwards but when he saw Jordan’s big camera (we’d just come back from RFK Stadium and David Beckham’s first game in the MLS) he jibed at us and said, “Not with that big ass camera!” Classic Chapelle. I did manage to get a dap, though so it was all good.

- Senior Year: Ah man where to begin. So many memories…

o 4 November 2008: History. Enough said.

o 20 January 2009: History Part II.

o January 2009 - May 2009: Sitting next to the most beautiful distraction known to man for an entire semester!

o 14 April 2009: Barack comes to Georgetown. I get to go cover it for my newspaper and get to say I was under the same roof as the first President of the United States of African-America. Crazy.

o 15 May 2009: Senior Ball.

o 16 May 2009: Graduation.

Like I said, memories that will last a life time.

But as I end this little ode to the dear old alma mater, I have to give a special shout out to the people who were part of my Georgetown family. Without them Georgetown wouldn’t have meant nearly as much to me. There’s entirely too many people to name though and I’ll have to just settle for some pictorial evidence of my appreciation.

Here’s hoping my Hoya fam has a great time at Homecoming. This entire weekend my heart will be in Georgetown.