Green and White

On Saturday, my heart was in East Lansing. My cousin called me from one of the tennis courts to chide me about not sharing with him how great it is to tailgate like a Spartan and it brought me back to all of the crisp days where we bundled up and filled our boda bags with core warming concoctions and huddled together in camaraderie and school spirit.

Just a day before, I was sharing with Erin my horror at the projected cost of a four year education at my beloved institution would be in sixteen years, factoring in the cost of inflation (go here if you aren’t faint of heart). $366,000.00. Three. Hundred. Sixty. Six. Thousand.

Dollars.

I’m assuming that doesn’t include things like groceries, cute team apparel, late night breakfasts at Denny’s, sorority dues or emergency gas fund to get back home when you are either (a) homesick or (b) out of clean laundry. Gah! And, I’m presuming that it will only take the Beans four years in which to complete their baccalaureate. You know…like it took me….and six months. Wha? Wha? I switched majors halfway through sophomore year! Damn economics!

That being said, I should probably start saving now. This weekend, I should have opened a 529 Account instead of buying this, this and this for the Beans. But really, doesn’t every girl need princess shoes?

When I mentioned it to their aunt, she said that they could go to our local (and wonderful) community college for the first two years and then transfer. I smiled and nodded but what I really wanted to say is that I cannot wait for the day that they get the acceptance letter from my alma mater. I will be decked out in green and white and we will sing the fight song and we will spend every autumn Saturday at the edge of our chairs, fingers crossed, hoping against hope for our beloved team.

The bottom line is that I will be happy with whatever college they choose. Even if their future entails a certain weasel festooned in garish yellow and blue. I just want them to have the same (PG rated!) experiences that I did and to meet new people and have every opportunity that an education affords them. When I arrived at the doorsteps of my dorm, I was shy and naïve and a bit self-conscious. I’d like to say that I emerged wiser, tougher and more confident, yet still optimistic and idealistic about the world around me.

Whatever they decide, I hope they make good decisions, take the right path and feel happy and fulfilled doing so. If that is the case then every penny will be well spent.

Go green! Go white!