Every fall, a new crop of local kids head off to college. I have been fortunate enough to watch some of my friend’s kids grow up here on St. Simons Island and one of my favorites is Frederick Stroud. I held him in my arms when he was only days old, watched him play T-ball, ran with him on his first Bridge Run as a 12 year-old (yes, he beat me!), embarrassed him as a teenager when I would see him with a pretty young date and say “Frederick, this is a different girl than the one I saw you with the other day.” His dad, Freddy, was one of my best friends growing up and still is. Freddy is 2 yrs older than I am and always looked out for me, from playing football in high school to helping me navigate my way through my freshman year at UGA.
From the time Frederick was little, he has always called me “Uncle Dave,” which makes me beam. With both of us having busy schedules, Freddy and I don’t get to hang out as much these days, but we talk on the phone for a quick “update” every day or so. Just checking in, that sort of thing. When Frederick decided on UGA for college, I was so excited. Since my oldest nephew graduated 3 years ago, I haven’t been back to Athens (other than the 100 year Lambda Chi Alumni Reunion this past April). Now I have a good excuse to road trip up there for the next 4 years!
Having talked with friends of mine who had gone through the experience of taking that first child off to college, I knew it was going to be tough on Freddy. When my older sister went off to Vanderbilt University back in the fall of 1978, my parents drove her up to Nashville. I got to stay home by myself and had one of the BEST high school “word of mouth” parties ever! Of course now all the kids have to do is post on Facebook. Back then, it was literally “word of mouth.” But I digress… As I said, my folks took my sister off to college. Years later, my mom told me that when they drove away from dropping Kelly off at Vandy, dad got all teary-eyed. By the time I headed to Athens two years later, I don’t think they were quite as sentimental. I guess it gets easier for a parent to “let go.” And since Frederick has three younger brothers, by the time Carson heads off to college I think Freddy will be okay with the process. Which brings me to that moment in the Harris Teeter parking lot last month.
I was coming out of Harris Teeter, and saw Freddy’s wife, Anna. She waved and I walked up to her and said, “So, y’all are taking Frederick up to Athens tomorrow! I know that’s going to be tough on Freddy.” She smiled and started to tear up. Then I started tearing up. I gave her a hug and walked to my car. I have no doubt that my buddy Freddy teared up when they drove away from Russell Hall. Heck, I couldn’t make it out of the Harris Teeter parking lot.
