MY LIFE Day 15
I attended the University of Oregon for undergrad.
For those of you who are familiar with Division one sports, I am a Duck NOT a Beaver.
I loved attending the U of O. It was exactly what I wanted in a school, big and fun. I also wanted to be a journalism major at time, so it all worked.
The Eugene campus is ultra traditional looking. It is so cookie cutter college that Animal House was filmed there. I have seen the movie countless times, I could probably write the dialogue from start to finish. It seems like it was always on in the background somewhere at parties. Yes, I did attend a toga party on occasion, 4 occasions as they were annually.
There was something magical about attending a home football game at Autzen stadium in October. The air is crisp and the leaves are turning. The excitement was in the air, and there truly is nothing like it.
During my Sophomore year, Oregon turned around around a decade long losing streak and made it back to the Rose Bowl. I won’t get into the score of the actual game, but it was the beginning of Oregon becoming a football powerhouse. Incidentally, it coincided with national tv announcers stop saying “Orygun”.
I was in a sorority in college. I learned a great deal about group dynamics, what really happens when 45 women live together in a house, and why I need time alone every day.
Despite all the drama and ups and downs, I learned great skills such as how to navigate a cocktail a party, why we always pass to the right at dinner and to always wear a slip when the really old ladies come over for an event.
The founders of Nike attended the U of O and running is very much part of the culture as well. Eugene is also called Tracktown, USA for the great track and field program.
When my husband and I first moved to Manhattan, we would go to alumni events, even though he isn’t a Duck.
That is how much going to the U of O means to me. I wish I was able to get back more often.
I wasn’t able to get back to Oregon for a while when my kids were little, and I have had opportunities lately and I love the atmosphere.
Where did you go to college?
Erin Wathen
As a Holistic Health Coach, it is Erin’s big hairy audacious goal is to change the dialogue around how we look at weight loss. It is not a matter of being it Ketosis or Food Swaps but the feelings we have that we are avoiding by overeating. Why are so many of us not tackling the real issues we have? It is easier and safer to obsess over the latest diet fad. Whether it be with our job, or our Mom, boyfriend, politics… until we address how we manage our feelings in the world, we are not going to.
