Educationally Speaking -- Gay Geiser-Sandoval

My husband and I deposited our oldest daughter back to her ivory tower

last week. It reminded me of the courses they should offer parents when

their kids are about to enter college. First, you need to learn how to

turn your vehicle into a moving van. There are special nuances of loading

up the collective junk necessary for life at college. It must be properly

packed up and stowed in a moving vehicle while still leaving room for

passengers and lunch. You should remember to pack a quiet lunch. We left

at 6 a.m., and our lunch was shouting out to be eaten by 10:30 a.m.

(especially the cookies).

Next, you need a course on ensuring that your child gets a room that

is many floors up with no elevators. Preferably, there is no unloading

area close to your son’s or daughter’s room, so that you get to linger

over the microwave and box of books as you stumble up each step of the

stairs.

Once the room is loaded with boxes, it is time to reconfigure the

furniture, which covers too much floor unless some of it is lofted or

bunked. In order to make it more of a challenge worthy of this lofty

institution, you will receive a little bent wire tool and some stripped

screws to accomplish this feat.

Then, it’s time for a run to the storage yard, where the nonessential

stuff got stored for the summer. Round two of schlepping begins. Now the

tricky part of trying to leave some space for a roommate requires the

proverbial shoehorn to come into play. As if you haven’t already had your

dream day, it’s time for a trip to the computer supply store for that

last-minute cable buy.

This year, I decided to be like Huell Howser and videotape my

daughter’s living quarters. I started at the yard and went through the

front door into each common room and area. It turned out my tape was not

“California Gold.” Rather, it had the makings of the “Blair Witch

Project.” I was a little too jerky and people who try to view it have to

do so under the influence of Dramamine.

I am ready for role reversal at this stage of my daughter’s life. I

want her to stay home and pay the tuition, and let me go savor the

college life. Almost every seminar in the catalog sounded exciting to me.

Heck, I would even go to the lectures! Instead of “Take Your Daughters to

Work” day, I am advocating “Take your Mothers to College” month.

. . .

Registration has started for the 15th annual Harbor Heritage Run on

Saturday. Over the years, Newport Harbor High School PTA has raised

nearly $300,000 to promote and enhance academic programs at the school.

The 2K race will start at 8 a.m., and the 5K race will start at 8:30 a.m.

Entry fees will range from $20 for adults, $18 for students and $15 for

children, and will include a race T-shirt. Information: 949-645-5806 or

o7 https://www.kathyloperevents.com/hhrf7 .

. . .

The Costa Mesa High School girls’ golf team won its first match ever

last week. If winning is everything in high school sports, some would say

this team hasn’t really been doing much. But, if high school sports are

there to keep kids out of trouble while teaching them a sport they can

use in business and pleasure for a lifetime, the team has already won.

While others are bemoaning the fact that girls’ golf isn’t ready to

add more players and scores to the tally sheet, I am ecstatic that more

girls will be recruited to join the sport in high school. Golf is still a

needed skill for the top jobs in America. If we want girls to excel and

break through the glass ceiling, we should be encouraging them to play

this sport in high school.

Golf is about playing courteously with your opponent, as opposed to

trying to hurt them. As their own referees, players must maintain the

integrity of the game. Instead of growling at the opposing team, each

golfer becomes the school’s diplomat in a world that needs to learn to

get along. You can appreciate your opponent’s worth when they are willing

to search and rescue your ball from a scummy pond. Sports isn’t about

building character; it’s about revealing it.

* GAY GEISER-SANDOVAL is a Costa Mesa resident. Her column runs

Tuesdays. She may be reached by e-mail at o7 GGSesq1@aol.comf7 .