I’m Getting Used to You

by Laura

Every day here leaves me exhausted (mostly mentally, but sometimes emotionally and physically as well), but it’s the kind of exhaustion that is more satisfaction than anything else. Today was especially so.

The first two weeks of Academy were odd- almost like an extended icebreaker. There are ten of us attending- seven girls and three guys, one of whom is a religious brother. We were haphazardly thrown together at the National Right to Life Convention in Dallas in the last few days of June and subsequently traveled from Dallas to Washington, where we settled into our temporary home (we all reside on the same floor of a dorm of a local university) and dove headfirst into the craziness that is Academy.

I wouldn’t say that we are now all “BFFLs OMG!”, but we’ve fallen into niches, as people do, and are all comfortable enough with each other- like a little family. Today was the first day that I realized this. Suddenly, I looked around the conference table, tacitly separating myself from the situation, and people-watched for a moment. Smiles! Joy! Laughter! …We are from all over the country, and yet we came to the same place for the same reason. Suddenly, I was stricken with a sense of solidarity, similar to yet different from those which I’ve experienced in Pro-Life Aggies and Texas Right to Life; and sweet on its own merits.

Today, over lunch, Br. JP (our resident religious [OSB]/comic relief) mentioned that he had seen the movie Pacific Rim with Roger the night before. Roger is our resident house grandpa/ Mr. Rogers/ font of wisdom, kindness, and encouragement; he lives at the office during Academy. Br. JP brought up the latter fact and expressed dismay at Roger’s sleeping arrangements- Roger sleeps on a futon/cot contraption in a tiny corner while he is here.

“He deserves better than that futon thing!”

“That can’t be good for his back…”

“We really need to get him something better.”

“Well, how about we buy him an air mattress?”

“Let’s do it. We can all chip in.”

And so began the quest for an air mattress for dear old Roger. After scoping out a few stores, Br. JP hastened away to Bed, Bath, and Beyond; he returned in time to watch Amazing Grace with us, hiding his purchase behind a podium. Gabriela made a card, which we all signed.

When the movie ended, Br. JP revealed the secret, placing the mattress (a fancy remote-controlled model- only the best for Roger!), sheets, pillow, and card upon the conference table. Roger was momentarily befuddled; but as he read the card and listened to JP’s explanation of the gift, his face fell, and he nearly teared up. I think I speak for all ten of us, including the boys, when I say that we did, too. Then he broke into his inimitable, infectious smile; he thanked us; we thanked him- we certainly have far more for which to thank him than he, us. I stayed after with Br. JP and Hannah to help set up the mattress and make his bed. It was perfect! It’s the type that is rather tall and just right to plop onto, and the firmness is adjustable. He sent us home with a hug- See you in the morning.

I’m not writing this to make you say “Oh, what wonderful young people!” or whatever. Rather… It was one of the most humbling moments of my life. We may as well have given him nothing, and by this I mean that, being so far from home, the genuine kindness and affection and encouragement that Roger gives to us, and not just to us as a whole, but to each of us individually, is beyond anything that we could do for him.

A kindness accepted as a whole and (attempted to be) reciprocated as a whole… our class is growing closer.

My roommate, Madeline, and I just had a conversation about how this would all be over so quickly.

It’s not something we want to think about…