6: "What Does 'Infantile' Mean?"

I mentioned in my opening post, in explaining this countdown, that the memories had to either be on-campus or related to school somehow.  That, unfortunately, eliminated so many great memories I've had the past four years with my family - memories that would fill up their own Top 25 that would very easily top this one.

But there is one memory that qualifies. In my previous entry, I said that 7 and 6 were both about football games.  Number 6 is about a very special football game at Michigan, one that was literally a dream come true for me. The time my family got to visit me on a football Saturday.

It's not just the football game aspect of it.  I missed out on having my family here because of their move to South Carolina. I had been to most of my friends' parents' houses, but my friends had barely met my family.  And I didn't have the ability to go home for a meal from my mom, or to see my brother's plays or my sister's dance recitals.  And that's been very, very hard for me.

So, when setting my budget for senior year, I made a request: that we use some of the financial aid money that was left over to buy tickets to a game and flights for my family to come visit me.  It was a wish of mine ever since they moved, and it finally was going to happen.

The game itself was not all that memorable.  But I loved being able to give everyone a tour of the renovated stadium, teaching my sister (who had never been to a game at all, unlike everyone else) about the traditions ("stand when the band plays, always").  She, in particular, was really in awe of it all.

And, we got this great picture out of it:

We made a great weekend of it, too.  My mom wanted one night to be able to make a big meal for me and my friends, and she sure did.  She even made separate things for people's various diets (vegetarians, lactose-intolerant) and went all out.  It was an incredible meal, and my family and friends all got to make fun of me together.  My mom and sister got to go on and on about stupid things I have said or done, and my friends got to laugh and agree with them.  The best moment was when my mom told me I am "infantile," which after having it explained to me I agree is a great fit.

Despite having to share my room with everyone, it was a wonderful weekend.  I felt, for really the first time, that I was sharing Michigan with my family.  For the same reason I always take my friends home to Stevensville, I wanted my family to come to Ann Arbor.

It was a great wish of mine, and the weekend fulfilled that wish - and then some.  It was truly one of the most amazing experiences ever, feeling like the little infantile boy I know I am, having family meals together and going to a game together.