Rewind to the 509

I have to laugh when I think about my high school graduation (and when I look at this photo above from my freshman year of college). The best times of my life? Yeah right! I now know why people say your college years are the best years of your life…because it’s totally true. Totally. From the day I arrived on campus to the day I saw Pullman in my rearview mirror, I lived the most memorable moments…all packed into four short years.

I met many wonderful people who affected my life in different ways. I made it to the wheat fields of Washington just two weeks after my high school graduation, and I made friends with my teammate Adriane instantaneously. The two of us had some crazy times that summer before freshman year, but one event in particular will be forever burned in my memory as if it happened yesterday.

One day we went to the local grocery store with our scholarship “credit” cards. These cards had a pre-loaded amount added each week, but it was up to our freshman selves to keep track of the money. I picked up only a few items because I knew I had just about $20 left for the week. I went to check-out and a friendly, cute college guy checked my groceries. He asked us some questions and although I don’t remember, he likes to tell me I blurted out that I was a freshman on the basketball team. Well, my card got rejected, and not being one to let things fly, I told him that was not possible. I looked at his nametag and said, “Listen, Troy, you swipe that card again because I know there is $20 on it!” After another rejection, I embarrassingly paid with cash. I remember thinking to myself I would avoid his line if I ever went to that grocery store again.

I suppose it’s important to note that I had no concept of just how small Pullman was. About two days later, after my first day of summer school, I was walking past the football practice field when I saw this guy climbing up some stairs in football pads. He looked familiar to me…and it hit me like a ton of bricks…this was the guy from the grocery store. Oh my gosh. What were the odds? I rummaged in my purse to find my cell phone to call Adriane. My head was down, and I hoped he did not see me or recognize me. Little did I know, this guy would become one of my best friends. We had some of the greatest times together until he graduated a year and half before me. We had lunch together weekly in the athlete buffet, went to church together on Sundays and he consoled me over the years as my team continued to lose. We’re friends to this day, and even though Troy’s in the NFL (crazy, I know!), he still makes time to keep in touch.

That summer gave me a taste of what college life would be like. My days revolved around working out and going to class. The weather was awesome, and the Snake River was just a quick drive away. We spent many days cramming everything in so that we could take off to the river, jump off the rocks and soak up the Eastern Washington sun. One weekend Adriane and I went to the Gorge for a John Mayer concert. Many memories crammed the hours we spent traveling without air conditioning in her old Bronco. Of course we got lost…more than once. We had terrible tickets, too…but we were determined to make the most of our outdoor concert experience and rocked out on the hill as if we were front row. A nice woman recognized our efforts and gave us her tickets on her way out. She said she only came for the opening act and wondered if we wanted her seats. We looked at each other and couldn’t believe our good fortune. The tickets were somewhere in the first 20 rows. We felt like we could reach out and touch John Mayer. It was crazy fun.

Our sweet summer quickly came to an end, and the campus became crammed with students. Life as a legitimate college student-athlete began. On my first day in the dorms, I met Emily. If I ever get married, I don’t want Emily to ever have control of the microphone at my wedding. This is the one girl who probably knows the most about me. Our rooms were right next door to each other, and we left our doors unlocked for immediate gossip sessions, therapy discussions, giggle fests and TV marathons. We’d go to breakfast together in Regents Hall, walk to Starbucks in the snow and make ourselves Eggo waffles and hot chocolate (with whip cream) in the dorms. Em was on the swim team and not only did she induct me as an honorary member of the team, but she introduced me to Laurie. The three of us labeled ourselves ELK (Ems, Lolo and Kato) and we proceeded to get into mischief together for the next four years.

Another key figure in my college days was none other than Jesse Taylor, the Californian football player. We became friends after Jesse overheard me whining that I needed football tickets. He graciously gave me his extra tickets, and then we started sitting by each other in a class we had together…that is, when he came. I think Jesse tried to play match-maker with a friend of his and me, but the result turned out to be nothing of the sort. Jesse and I started acting like an old married couple shortly after we met. He loved to give me his “words of wisdom” when I was bummed about basketball or freaking out about getting straight A’s. Without a doubt, college would not have been the same without this guy. He came into my life when I was busy having panic attacks and over-stressing. I think I started to lighten up and enjoy the true meaning of college after I met Jesse. He knows this, and of course, loves to remind me. I couldn’t begin to write down all of our good times. Someday, I’d like to try. We went on all-day excursions to hike or camp. We rode our bikes…competitively…to Moscow or down by the Snake River. We BBQ’d like no other. We argued and debated a lot about the most random things and we laughed a ton.

One of the best stories from our college years is that of my 21st birthday. The family I babysat for decided to take me out for a birthday “drink.” One drink turned into one of every color, and by the time I was ready to go to the bars, I was ready to go to bed. *Sidenote: Before I turned 21, I could count the times I had been drunk on one hand.* Jesse was “in charge” of taking care of me because I was the first of my girlfriends to turn 21. I made it to a party, and then I guess Jesse thought I’d want to at least make it to one bar, so he and another big ex-football player took me. Of course I wanted to dance, and in doing so, I managed to flail my arms in such a manner as to jamming a beer bottle in Jesse’s face, chipping his tooth. There are several tangents to this story, all having to do with being at the bar, but I don’t remember any of them. I don’t remember the following portion of the story, but I have confirmation that it happened. Apparently, it was time to go, so Jesse and “big guy” Brent got me into Jesse’s car. According to Jesse, he saw the flashing siren of a cop car in his rearview mirror just as he pulled into my apartment complex. The officer asked for his license and told Jesse he was pulling him over because a concerned citizen had called the station and reported that two large males were putting an obviously intoxicated female into a car. In true Jesse fashion he said, “Oh, I am just getting my friend, KATE BENZ, home. It’s her 21st birthday, officer.” If you’re not familiar with Pullman, it’s a small enough town that a lot of people knew I was on the basketball team, and I think Jesse was banking on this fact. Sure enough, the officer handed back Jesse’s license and said to me, “Kate! Happy Birthday. You had a great season this year! Have a great night!” Meanwhile, I was getting sick and leaning out the window of Jesse’s car.
Yeah. Right. I’m sure. I didn’t believe this story the first time I heard it. Maybe I should mention that I woke up the next morning and heard the breathing of someone lying next to me. I was so freaked out, and did not want to roll over and see who it was. Flashbacks started to flood my mind, and I rummaged for my phone. I was relieved to find out that it was my good friend and teammate, Heather…but that still didn’t answer all the questions and gaps from my memory. I got up to call Jesse, and I believe it was around 6 a.m. He came over and told me the whole story…scene by scene. I still didn’t believe him until I asked him why there were cooking pots by my door. He told me he filled them with water to wash off the door of his car where I had gotten sick. Good Lord. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Then he drove me to the “scene of the crime,” where he was pulled over and showed me evidence of another sickness episode. Needless to say, whether or not I forgot my birthday…there were plenty of people who witnessed it and quite a story to retell for the rest of my life. But this is just one example of the trouble I got into with Mr. Taylor. We liked to call ourselves the “best best friends” around…by the time we graduated, Jesse was like a second brother to me.