The day my nephew moved into my alma mater

When my nephew was looking at colleges last year, he decided to apply to my alma mater, Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

For some reason, I didn’t think it was likely he would go. But F&M offered him a spot in the Class of 2027—and he said yes! As the weeks of summer drifted toward fall, we found out his move-in date, and I cleared my calendar for the day.

If you’ve been following along here, you might remember that I helped his big sister move into Mount Holyoke two years ago. I was determined to assist this time around, too. August is incredibly busy, but what are aunts for, after all? Especially as an aunt who is also a graduate of his school, I felt I had to be there.

And, I have to tell you, it was an incredible day.

I brought Berger cookies, because those are my nephew’s favorite Baltimore treat, and a few screwdrivers, just in case.

My younger son tagged along so he could see his cousins—and do important tasks like helping to carry the stuffed shark from the car to his cousin’s dorm room.

The move itself was unbelievably simple. An upper-class student greeted us with a rolling cart. Somehow, the six of us managed to move everything from the car to the room in one trip.

I was expecting the memories to come flooding back, and they came. Almost 30 years have passed since I moved into my own dorm room on 2^nd Buchanan. I remember meeting my roommate and her family and starting to connect with other students on my hall.

Back then, F&M felt daunting and exciting and new. On this visit, it felt more like coming home—but to a home I hadn’t visited in almost 15 years.

My friend Marcy who was working at F&M when I was a student walked over from her office to visit with us while we were setting up the room. I loved reintroducing her to my sister Maureen. Marcy let my nephew know she was in town if he needed anything at all.

I just smiled through it all. He had left New York that morning, but somehow, F&M was already becoming his home and family.

When I felt as if my nephew and sister could use some time to do some final decorating themselves, I invited my son and my younger nephew to go to the bookstore. About halfway there, I stopped and said, “Wait. What if it’s not where it was 25 years ago?”

Well…it isn’t. It hasn’t been for 13 years. The teen boys with me showed equal parts delight with the ridiculous situation and exasperation with me, as only teen boys can. I plugged the bookstore into a map on my phone, and we carefully tracked it across the campus.

The bookstore has been moved to an exquisite spot—a building that I remember only entering to register for classes so many years ago. I remember standing in a long line to register for classes in person. It wasn’t a fun building either.

Some changes really are for the best.

In the bookstore, the boys and I found an F&M magnet and keychain for the new F&M mom. We looked at many shirts and sweatshirts, but my son was asking for an F&M pillow. They didn’t have price tags, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to buy something without an obvious price. We were probably out of our league. But I went to the cash register to ask how much it cost.

“I think those are $20,” said the cashier. “Oh, actually, they’re $19.98.”

1998. My graduation year. It was meant to be. We left with a pillow for the new college student and one for my son. I had told him he could get a treat for himself.

For me, though, the whole day was a treat. I had the chance to be with people I love, to see my nephew settling into one of my favorite places on earth, and to enjoy a slice of spaghetti pizza at Rosa Rosa, just off campus.

Everywhere I turned, there were memories to share or new discoveries to make. It was the most beautiful day.

And I know we will be back. Our nephew is going to need more cookies, for one thing.

My reunion is this fall since I graduated from F&M 25 years ago, and I would love to be there—if I can—to celebrate with him. My uncle actually graduated from there 50 years ago, so we have the same reunion year. It would be so amazing to be there all together, though I don’t know whether that will happen.

For now, I’m just happy to be watching a new story unfold.

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