College Girls

Well, my daughter McKell is reaching the pinnacle of her college javelin-throwing career. What a weekend we had watching throw the hammer (a filler event for her) in the morning Friday and then graduating from Utah Valley University that evening with her B.S. The first of our children to get that.

Saturday brought the refreshing spring sunshine and her last track meet before conference competition. With all the wait time for spectators, there is ample time to get a conversation going with the family and friends of other competitors. Such was the case yesterday.

I stood next to Faith (a pseudonym), the "friend" of one of McKell's teammates (I'll call Fran). Those of us who have known Faith and Fran suspect that they are more than just friends, but they have never let on openly, not even to me, who you'd think has a sign saying "Welcome" for anyone who needs some insight on figuring out sexuality mingled with Mormonism or even just a judgement-free listening ear.

Faith and I had an isolated spot next to the fence, and after some chit-chat and leading questions from me, Faith started sharing her background:  a forced-to-be-Mormon girl in her childhood with staunch Mormon parents, the youngest of four girls. As a teenager, she had real anger issues, which is the opposite of the subdued and patient demeanor she displays now at 20 or 21. When she finally made a stand and started living and doing as she wanted, happiness was hers, finally, and that "doing what she wants" is not going to church, living as she pleases, and being with Fran as often as she can, from what I can tell. She adores her. And I think Fran feels pretty much the same.

In spite of my dangling bait large enough to attract a blue whale, Fran did not bite-- not a word nor innuendo about Faith and her relationship beyond friends. Oh, the chemistry was obvious, but for whatever reason, they feel the need to keep it covert.

Well, all of this story does have a point:  What a shame!! The pure intensity of relationships such as that (in our younger years) set the bar by which all passion is measured later on in life. Since it is such a rare occurrence, it seems like an extreme waste of golden times...just for the lack of freedom or courage or whatever, to indulge on the sweetness of it. Because... sadly and ...sure enough, as Virgil stated centuries ago, "Ultima dia, prima fugit." (The best days are the first to flee.)