Drawing on Words

While I’m not a big celebrity watcher, I do enjoy a morning talk show “The View” where a small table to women discuss daily news.  The one exception is that if I am star struck with anyone one the show, it is most definitely the most magnificent Whoopi Goldberg.

“The View” group often have guests that are usually there hawking their latest movie or book.  Last week is was Caitlyn Jenner, arguably the most famous transgender woman in the US.  She was talking about her new book.

Not being a huge fan and NOT keeping up with the reality train-wrecks on television (I do not keep up with the Kardashians.) I was half listening until I heard these two words  “Graceland” and “Iowa.”

I came back into the room, backed up the DVR and listened.  Before she was the famous Caitlyn….even before she was the famous Bruce Jenner- Olympic medal winner, Jenner attended a tiny college in Iowa, called Graceland.

My Graceland.  That’s where I attended my first two years of college before transferring to the University of Kansas.  Jenner? Olympic winner?  Graceland?

I hit google and sure enough, Jenner received a scholarship to football at Graceland.  I pulled out my Acacia yearbooks and his name was in the back of both my freshman and sophmore books.  He stayed in a dorm named “Faunce.”  I checked the pictures…..nothing.  Either book.  Hummmm.  He was an upperclassman and I don’t remember him.  But he did attend….  I checked all the yearbook snaps and BINGO!  There he was on page 140 (pictured above).

Small world, indeed.  The people you rub shoulders along the way….who knows their journey.  Those in the stands cheering on the relay race.  Did they know they were cheering on a future Olympian? Reality TV figure? Transgender Woman?

The world is a pretty interesting place, indeed.