A full moon on a cold Winter night, especially when a ring is present, always reminds me of my sophomore year at La Salle. I was living in the Hillary dorms, sharing room 113 with Roger; overall my time at La Salle was uneventful, and I rarely look back on those days.  I have only passing memories, save for just a few…

Dan Fogelberg’s The Innocent Age album had been released that Fall, and I listened to it a lot, especially the song In The Passage:

There’s a ring around the moon tonight

And a chill in the air

And a fire in the stars that hang

So near, so near

The second and third floors in Hillary were women only, and Maryann roomed in a single on the second floor.  Maryann used to visit me in my room, chatting and being a generally nice person.  We talked about school, about music, the comedy of Albert Brooks… she just kind of hung out, being nice… She technically completed her required credits for graduation that Fall 1981 semester, and graduated with the class of 1982, so she moved out of the dorm that December.

The thing is, for as much as I knew otherwise, I was a jerk to her.  I mean, I did like her, but I was going through a rough time myself, was mixed up about relationships, and trust, and never let Maryann get close to me.  She was a smart girl, and tolerated me for just so long before she moved on, but I still think of her each Winter, and I feel bad for having been cruel to her.  I doubt she remembers, or even cares about, any of this – but I do.