Years of My Life

A Journey from 1944 to … Now

1969-70 School Year

“The married man!”—that is a line

From Shakespeare’s Much Ado.*

And I was feeling so amazed:

My dull old life was through!

And both of us were back in school—

Though I was just part-time

(Through nights and summers)—on we went—

An ever-upward climb.

I still was loving middle school—

That would not go away.

In fact, I love it as I sit

Right here, right now, today!

We had a tiny place in Kent**

But close to campus sites—

We walked to evening classes—then

Returned in darkest nights.

It was, in ways, a magic time—

Yes, all of it a thrill.

And I confess to all of you:

It has that magic … still.

*Said of the confirmed bachelor (and now a groom), Benedick, near the very end by Don Pedro: “How dost thou, Benedick the married man?” (5.4).

**323 College Court; Kent, Ohio (still standing!)