1470 Miles

Caitlin H.

January 3, 2010 - 3:49 PM

One thousand four hundred seventy miles, and at least one story to go along with every one of them. My last adventure before the commencement of winter term was certainly something I will never forget.

There were car games, chats with friends, a day spent at Six Flags Magic Mountain, a football game, a Rose Parade, explorations at the Santa Monica Pier, newspaper interviews, live concerts, New Year's celebrations, crazy California driving experiences, first In-N-Out dining experiences - the trip had it all. As a good friend of mine recently said to me, "When you spend six days with your friends without a second apart, only to return home and realize you didn't have enough time, you know you have some pretty amazing friends."

I could fill pages with humorous anecdotes from my trip to the Rose Bowl, but throughout the trip I have been impressed most by one thing in particular: the loyalty and the atmosphere of ‘being a Duck.'

As I wandered around a California theme park clad in Oregon gear I found friends all around me, drawn in by nothing more than fellowship in our support of the Ducks. As I passed people along the sidewalk also dressed in green and yellow we waved and smiled like we'd once been acquaintances instead of what we actually were: complete strangers. As cars drove past us on the freeway we would honk and cheer, or they would. Sometimes people who weren't even particularly Duck fans would show us support hoping our team would win the big game coming up.

As the final clock struck zero and our Ducks left the field without a bowl trophy this year I fell in love with life at Oregon all over again. Because even after a loss, even after disappointment, you could feel the Oregon spirit living on. It was there as Duck fans drove home on the freeway still showing their Oregon pride. It was there as folks were leaving the stadium talking about the potential for next year. It was everywhere. And it wasn't pride in football or even just in a school; it was a pride in a whole experience and it was pride in a style of living.

I'm glad I have been a part of that.