It's like we're adults or something

For the second time this year, I had the opportunity to hear a lecture given by one of my former Grove City professors. In both cases, I arrived late (a habit I, fortunately, did not have while a student), and both times as I entered the large rooms and heard their voices, I loved the feeling of being transported back in time.

Thursday night was especially fun since the speaker was not only a former teacher, but also a good friend -- Paul Bonicelli. Pete had invited him to come to Wingate as a speaker for the lecture series that he has helped to start. Paul flew in from Houston and was here overnight, which was a treat for our family, as well as the Wingate community.

In true Paul fashion, he gave a pro-democracy speech that was eloquent, compelling, and full of strong assertions. (I found myself lapsing into my student mentality of wanting to poke some hole in a strong, slightly arrogant professor's claims... but I came up empty-handed last night.) Also in true Paul fashion, he managed, in a short hour's time, to offend anyone from France, residents of Wisconsin and Louisiana, and fans of Sean Penn.

I have to give him credit, though: when he was asked some very direct, political questions after the speech, he restrained himself from launching too much into one of his familiar tirades.... even when asked a question about the health care plan in D.C. (Those of you who know him know just how much self-control this must have taken!)


Pete facilitated a Q&A session...

... and Marc, one of our other Grove City friends was able to come as well!

It was so weird to see these guys all dressed up and doing such professional things. I keep forgetting that my friends are adults -- that I'm even married to an adult!

It really doesn't seem like so long ago that Pete and Paul were traveling around Europe together after we graduated...

In this picture, they're standing at the birthplace of Karl Marx in Germany, I think, which is kind of funny considering the topics last night. Yes, they've come a long way.