Today’s blog is part Stars Hollow, part Slippery Rock. I will do my review of Season Four of Gilmore Girls and Rory’s first year at Yale University. I’m also going to highlight the events leading up to when I started at Slippery Rock.
As for Gilmore Girls, I thought I’d be done with the show once Rory and Paris graduated from Chilton (Those Are Strings, Pinocchio). But as it turned out, season four was the best season so far. I was introduced to new characters (Jason, Doyle, plus the weird suite mates that lived in Rory and Paris’s dorm, and Asher). The storylines were good as well. Richard and Jason go into business, Lorelei and Sookie begin plans to open the Dragonfly Inn, and Luke’s drama with Nicole.
I think what stood out was Paris’s budding romance with Professor Fleming (Michael York). This was a May-December romance if I ever saw one. Richard and Emily’s separation was also a big storyline. Was it the ‘stache?
I first found out about Slippery Rock at a college transfer fair being held at the Greater Johnstown Career and Technology Center around Halloween 2002. I looked around for the school I’d call home the next four years. I planned on getting my Associates Degree in the Spring of 2003.
I talked to representatives from California (PA), Edinboro, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and a nice green and white campus about an hour north of Pittsburgh. Clarion didn’t make it due to the inclement weather (Johnstown had freezing rain that morning) and Juniata and Penn State weren’t on my radar.
That night after I got back from class, I took my literature to HGA’s student union, The Annex. I reviewed it to find the best fit for me. California, Edinboro, and IUP looked enticing, but it was clear where I had my heart set on going.
One of the episodes from season four that stood out to me was “The Incredible Sinking Gilmores”. Richard’s mom (excellent acting by Marion Ross) takes Lorelei and Richard to task in the way she usually does with Emily. I could relate to this episode during my first year at my new school.
Both Lorelei and Rory felt like failures because of their struggles. Lorelei was losing money because the construction of the Dragonfly Inn was taking longer than expected. Rory was falling behind in a class and feared she’d have to drop one and she’d disappoint her grandfather, a Yale alumnus. I would go through my own set of growing pains at my new college come the Fall of 2003.
While the school was on Spring Break, my mom and I made our first visit there early that Monday. We met with an admissions representative in North Hall. I was quite impressed with what I had seen so far. We were introduced to the campus and I learned about some of the liberal arts classes that we offered. After our meeting, I left to go back to HGA feeling very confident that I would get accepted. We stopped for lunch at Eat’n Park in Butler and then we were on our way back to Johnstown. The next week I went home for Spring Break and filled our application for Slippery Rock University.
A week later, I received the good news that I had been accepted into The Rock. But tragedy followed the positive vibes that came for me. That weekend, my grandpap had a sudden heart attack and passed away. I went home on a snowy Sunday to be there for my Grandma. My family congratulated me on getting into Slippery Rock and mourned with me in my time of loss. It was a bittersweet final few days of March.
I’ve talked about the storylines and the characters. Time to close off the Stars Hollow portion by discussing the season finale. First of all, Sally Struthers and Liz Torres came up clutch in the Dragonfly Inn Test Run. Babette never fails at making me laugh. How did she know about Lorelai and Jason? From Miss Patty of course. Those two are perfect as the gossips of Stars Hollow. Even Tom (the foreman) cleaned up good. But the Dean and Rory portion of the episode had me bawling at the end. Yes we saw a little of him and Jess in season four. She goes home to get CD’s and catches up with Dean. Lorelei catches wind of their antics and reminds her than Dean is still married. Rory didn’t care and still had feelings for him. The episode and season ends with her crying on the front stairs.
The last week of April, my Mom and I went up to Slippery Rock for orientation. We arrived early and took our seats in the University Union. I was ready to learn more about the school I’d call home for the next four years. We took a walking tour of the campus after getting to know some of the people who were speaking. I saw the building where I’d have classes next fall and even got to sit in the classroom. It was a nice Spring day perfect for a drive up to Slippery Rock. However not everything was set in stone.
I still didn’t have housing set up and wasn’t sure if anything would be ready for the Fall. We kept our fingers crossed that something would come up and surely it did. Soon enough I had a place to live on campus. The countdown could now begin. I got my classes scheduled right before Memorial Day. Summer was now underway and in just a few months I was going to be calling Slippery Rock University home.
Time to close off the blog. Happy Easter and Resurrection Sunday. I heard a great sermon from my church this morning on their Facebook page. They even had a drive in service this morning that only lasted 35 minutes but from what I hear the parking lot was full. It’s a bittersweet holiday this year without my Grandma. Easter was always her favorite holiday. We’re making her stuffed chicken and mashed potatoes for supper.
Remember on this special day to live your best life. Be your best you. ROCK out because you are worth it. Don’t eat too much food (or chocolate) today and, don’t forget to laugh because laughter is the best medicine.
Bye everyone. ❤️ you 🤗 😘.
Stylish 🍒 