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Lost and Found
In the 46 years since my intellectual or was it social, journey at BGSU, I’ve lost and found many things, both tangible and
not, as well as kept searching for that elusive magic moment when all of life’s conundrums are resolved. What I have discovered
is that as we lose our way, a path out of the shadows always appears, and we find what we are seeking. Our chance to pluck
a seashell from the sand and then throw it into the sea isn’t about what we found and then lost rather what we had and set
free.
I’ve lost the youthful exuberance for meeting each day’s challenges head on that were a part of my classroom demeanor, but
since found a path of peace as I reflect on a successful teaching career. I’ve lost touch with a majority of my students,
but found immeasurable pleasure in sharing the lives of so many others. How do I prepare students for the “real world” translates
in later years to “Yes, I will be happy to write a letter of recommendation for you.”
On some days I lose my car keys, can’t find my car in the crowded mall parking lot and lose patience with the traffic. Yet
as the sun fades into the distance, I find my keys amidst my purse’s clutter, hit the panic button and awaken my Lexus so
I can leave the other drivers in the dust. My friends and I joke about our senior moments and mind clutter, but it is wonderful
to be able to laugh at us and the blips the aging process seems to create. I may have lost some flexibility in my knee now
that it is titanium, but I set off the sensor at the airport and smile because I am traveling once again.
When I reflect on the past, I like what I see. Discovering my place in the academic world, striving to maintain a balance
between work and family, and stealing time out of the day to smell the proverbial roses has kept me from forgetting my ambitions,
made me appreciate my collegiate background, and given me a sense of reality and purpose.
So in a world in which the media proclaims a loss of privacy, a loss of morals and a diminished environment, I’ve found a
way to keep focused on my goals, both professional and personal … that is if I don’t lose my marbles.
Connie Francis ’61 | English Education
Bennington, Neb.
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