broken but not forgotten

Chris and I went to college together. He was a ‘social chair’ of just about everything. Everyone knew him. Everyone loved him. He loves to talk with people. Connect with people. Any event on campus…you knew Chris Campbell would be there and would probably be the last to leave. I on the other hand avoided all large group events and spent a ridiculous amount of time tucked away in the art department. I knew about 10 people (that is a tad of an exaggeration, but kind of true). He and my roommate Mandy went to several events together because I preferred to be alone in my room verses in a massive crowd trying to be social. We got married our senior year and shortly after were the Homecoming court nominations. Chris, naturally, was nominated for Best All Around Guy or Homecoming King (I can’t remember which one). And Mandy, who is like the girl version of my husband was nominated for Queen. Both were obvious choices. Everyone knew and loved them. Then the funny happened. Since I had just married Chris and was roommates with Mandy…they somehow got me nominated for Homecoming Queen. I still laugh when I look back at the pictures.

I’m pretty sure when people went to vote they were baffled by name on the ballot…they had probably never heard it before. I spent most of my college days in the yearbook room or art studio. Little known fact about me…I have enough credit hours in ceramics I could have majored in it if it had been a major at my college. During my college years everyone I knew ended up with some random bowl or mug from me at some point. Chris and I originally had about 20 pieces in our home. Each year a couple get broken. We have four kids. Over the last 6 years I’ve seen a lot of this….

All those hours and hours sitting at the potter’s wheel. I now have one little lonely mug left to show for it.

One mug and great recipes for scones, that is. My professor, Julie Blackstone, used to make us scones, cucumber sandwiches and other “tea time” treats for our final each semester. We’d all sit around with our mugs, sipping tea and celebrating another year of creativity. They were the best ‘finals’. I happily skipped out on all kinds of social events in college, but I never missed tea with Julie.

My little mug hangs in our kitchen. I suppose I could tuck it away so it doesn’t get broken (because I know eventually it will). It makes me think about how fleeting my days are and how I should fill them with purpose and doing what I love not just what everyone else is doing. I’m not sad I didn’t go to Midnight Madness Pancake Breakfast or whatever those things are called. I spent semester upon semester alone at a potter’s wheel. I learned so much about myself in that art studio. During those quiet hours, I learned so much about how God is constantly molding and shaping me. A lesson I remind myself of often these days. I’m a mom and for now the days of quiet hours at a potter’s wheel are gone. My days are loud and active and full of social events with little people. And I am overwhelmingly grateful for that, broken ceramics and all.

….and I think these 4 little people would totally vote for me as their Homecoming Queen.