Teodoro E. Gonzalez - Blythev ill e, AR Kimberly D. Gooch - Germantown, TN Dusty Dee Goodyear - Tigard, OR Alice K . Gore - Conroe, TX James R . Gowen - Searcy, AR William F . Grad y - Golden, CO John Benjamin Gray - Waco, TX Exchange of family words express Jove I t takes a couple of months for college to serve its inherent mission to make hundreds of freshmen appreciate their families more than ever. Say the word "family" and some conjure thoughts of dad's prayer at the supper table, mom's inquisitiveness about your friends, dad's questions about grades, and love, laughter, sorrow, hatred. Others may associate separation, divorce, with the word " family." Say the word "home" and most of the same thoughts bolt to your mind as did the memories of "family." Invariably there are thoughts and words we say when we "go home." "I'm home!" which is fol - lowed by this thought: let's get the hugs and kisses outa the way and get to some serious Mom's apple-pie-alamode-eating. "Anyone miss me?" A comment invoked by the presence of the folks' new couch, computer and four thousand storage boxes in Kara LeAnne Green - Idabel, OK Patti A. Green - Gilmer, TX Vanessa Green - Searcy, AR Jane Ann Gregory - North Little Rock, AR Donna M. Grooms - Spring Hill , TN Rebecca Leigh Gross . Sea rcy, AR Ellen M. Gullick - Kingwood, TX 198 Endless Faces "your" bedroom. "So what's been going on?" Translated "catch me up on the latest but no drawn out stories. We just drove 12 hours." "Mom and Dad, in David Tucker 's Macroeconomics class we discuss supply and demand. Can we talk about my bank account?" "I pledged this great social club - Skaggs Alpha Beta!" To which the parents reply, "Great, we just joined Sam's Wholesale Club!" "Mom and Dad, I hope you don't mind, but I brought home a shirt or two and some jeans . . . well, a truck full . . . no, they're not clean. I brought home that box of detergent you sent with me - the whole box." "Mom, Dad - I need to drive back home, 'I mean to school' early in the morning." Whoops. "I've made these great new friends and they've pulled me out of the problems I've been having and ... " Dad breaks in "What about the grades. The grades." "Everything went OK without me around here, huh?" Followed by the thought: "Geez, you could at least cut down the parent parties to three times a week." "Brought some books home to study, Dad." They remain stacked on the dresser all weekend. Kinda reminds ya of high school. Things parents say when you come home. "You haven't changed a bit! " To which I usually crinkle my brows down toward my ruffled nose and say, "But I put on some fresh clothes yesterday." "How were the roads" How'd the ol purple bomb run?" Dad says. Reply: "The roads were fine, thanks. The car ran like a scalded dog." "Run into any rain?" Mom says. "Yes but it didn't dint the car. " "I do believe you're picking up a little bit of a Southern accent down at Haarrddingg. Heh, heh , heh." "So, who's the girl we 've been hearing about? Are you dating?" Reply: "Mom, we're not dating. She asked me to her hayride." "That's what I said about your mom." Dad, thinking hilarious, says "I'll give 'em till spring. "Mom: "Do you have a picture?" Families are God-given to lend stability to our shaky lives. When we were born, families held us until our legs could support our tiny bodies. After we walked, families made sure we don't stroll into the street. When we went to kindergarten, families made sure we had our nap pad and lunch box. When we went out on a date, families made sure we came home on time and stayed out of devilment. When we went to college, families sent us with detergent, food, mail, money and in the process shed a few tears. And so did we. Thank God for homes, where families are, and for homecomings. -Greg Taylor
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