Plymouth State University

 

Life’s Little Survival Kit

                I have this group of friends, unofficially dubbed the RaRas, who gather at the pond each year.  Some members of the group protest this name for various reasons,  but I’m not sure what else to call them.  Basically, we address all of life’s big questions over the course of a weekend, reminisce about our life as friends-  family really, and then… rah, rah, I am ready to be propelled back into my life in Nebraska.  To think of it in St. Johnsbury terms, the founding home of the Fairbank’s scale, my life is in balance.  On one side of this scale are my mom and our families, our godchildren, and friends and on the other is our mission:  our vocations in Nebraska with our St. John’s family, school, Spokes, Scouts and Speech. 

                Anyway this summer was a momentous one.  One of our kids will be attending Plymouth State University, our alma mater, in the Fall.  Plymouth was the thread that brought and ties all the RaRas together in one way or another and now the next generation (a.k.a Lindsey) would be using it as her metaphorical dock- jumping off into the big wide lake-world as well.  To signify and celebrate this, the RaRas pulled together a Plymouth State survival kit, but it was more challenging than we originally anticipated to take all of the lessons we learned over our four years at Plymouth and boil them down to tangible objects to symbolize the intangible lessons we learned.  Eventually the survival kit emerged:  a lock, a fire extinguisher, silly putty with sound effects, a paint marker for writing in the snow, a winter tuque and a Vermont tee shirt.  The moral to the these objects-  have fun, be safe and never forget where you come from…

                Our prayer, the real survival kit for you, Lindsey, as you journey off to Plymouth is that you not only have the time of your life as you prepare for YOUR  life’s mission, but that 25 and even 50 years later, you will be surrounded by a group of friends (or dragonflies ;) as the case may be) and their families who continue to inspire you to be the best person you can be and who nourish, support and inspire you along the way.  We love you- RaRa, Lindsey!   xoxo