The reason for the visit-- her daughter was attending orientation at the University of Scranton. The daughter begins classes there next month.
I don't have children, so parts of the orientation experience were new to me. There were meetings and testing for the students, they get to spend the night in a dorm, and they experience a first taste of college life. Mom got the pleasure of attending financial planning meetings.
Times have certainly changed.
I remember my first day at Marywood back in 1979. There was a Sunday address by the president and a mass. We got a bag with a couple pamphlets, a schedule, and a bar of soap. I kid you not. A bar of soap! It was Coast, the eye opener. I love that stuff, and I can't smell a bar without thinking of Marywood. However, being given a toiletry on orientation day felt like receiving a prisoner of war care package, or something you'd get as you were checked into a federal prison.
There were some attempts at forced socialization on that orientation Sunday, like a volleyball tournament and a picnic. I interpreted those as "dormie" events and I blew them off. In retrospect, I should have taken the free burgers and dogs. It would have added value to my college experience.
Instead, I grabbed my high school friend, Jerry, who was also a Marywood freshman. We went to Burger King in Dunmore. Whopper. No mayonnaise. Large fries. Large diet cola. I believe BK was a Pepsi outlet at the time. Coke came along later.
I went home. Classes started the next day. I was disoriented and somewhat terrified, but at least I had a bar of soap for comfort. I was the best smelling frightened freshman you ever met.
