Abe Observes
Abe Villarreal is the Dean of Student Success at Cochise College. He enjoys writing about people, pastimes, and the small things in life.
Every generation loses something we wish we still had
- Category: Abe Observes Abe Observes
- Published: 21 May 2023 21 May 2023
By Abe Villarreal
I like it when people say things like "those were the good old days" or "they sure don't make things like this anymore." I don't know exactly why, but those kinds of phrases always make me smile.
Maybe it's because they are always said with kindness and a sense of reminiscence. Maybe it's the people that are saying them. They are usually older than me, and I know that even with those simple phrases they are trying to tell me something meaningful.
Maybe it's because I'm catching myself saying those phrases more than I realize. I did it the other day while talking to a 15-year-old about video games. He was holding a hand-held game of some sort, and I told him that when I was a kid I had the very first Nintendo.
A guy named Dennis, a street corner, and a prayer
- Category: Abe Observes Abe Observes
- Published: 02 April 2023 02 April 2023
By Abe Villarreal
I met a guy named Dennis on a street corner in Chicago the other day. I was in town for a few days, mostly attending conference sessions about higher education. Each speaker had something to say about something that he or she wanted us to know.
There was a lot to know about a lot of things, and just when you think you've had your fill of knowing something new, you end up learning something outside the conference that you really needed to know.
When not in the conference sessions, I did a lot of walking. A few snowflakes on the first day were followed by wind, rain, and cold weather. Not walking weather, but you are in Chicago when you are there, so I did a lot of walking.
There really is a silver lining in every cloud
- Category: Abe Observes Abe Observes
- Published: 26 March 2023 26 March 2023
By Abe Villarreal
I was going to start this column by sharing with you that spring was finally here until those tricky winds and cold mornings returned for one last stand, or what I hope is a last stand, and that I was upset about it because spring and summer are my favorite times of the year. I won't start there since I promised myself to start all things with more positivity.
So I'll begin by letting you know that lately, these low, fast-moving clouds and strong winds remind me that spring is almost here. It has to be almost here.
The trees know it because they started showing their leaves. Trees have been around for a lot longer than most of us, so they must know a thing or two about changes on the horizon.