Toomers corner

Though we didn't join the nearly 85,000 members of the Auburn family who rolled Toomer's Corner one last time on April 20th, we did take our "last roll" the following day with a few others who are privileged to call Auburn home. 

For so many of us, rolling those those trees is a family tradition embedded in our childhood memories of visits to the loveliest village. An experience that symbolizes right of passage into the Auburn family.  For those of us who were fortunate enough to come to Auburn for college and never leave, those trees provide frequent reminders of the privilege it is to call Auburn home.

Most days I do anything I can to avoid downtown Auburn traffic and congestion.  But I have a little secret....for years on early Sunday mornings during football season I have driven through Toomer's corner after big wins. The streets are quiet and the sunlight beams just right through the toilet papered trees.  Sometimes I slowed down on purpose, just to get "stuck" at the light.

 

Having traveled to many stadiums in college to watch the Tigers play, I know the excitement of a road game win.  But another great thrill is to grab a few rolls of Charmin from your hallway bathroom, drive as fast as you can downtown (sometimes in pajamas), and experience the rolling of Toomer's corner after a late night road game win.  

Perhaps Mark expressed it best...it's a difficult conversation when you attempt to explain to an innocent 5-year-old why an irrational adult poisoned the trees and they must be cut down.  Frankly, there is no acceptable explanation for it. 

Certainly the landscape downtown looks a bit different, but with a lovely long range plan and design we'll find ourselves in future years trying to visualize the trees of old. Was it a little sad, yes. But did this hurt Auburn, absolutely not.  The Auburn spirit and Auburn family grew stronger through this experience, so Mr. Updyke I hope you are happy.  I hope that was your intent.  We here in Auburn are even better for your ridiculous actions. 

Mark was not with us on Sunday afternoon, so we met down there as a family on Monday afternoon to take in the sights one more time.  With the tissue cleared out, you can see from this picture the extreme poor condition of the trees.

The Auburn Creed references a belief in "a spirit that is not afraid...obedience to the law because it protects the rights of all...the human touch, which cultivates sympathy with my fellow men and mutual helpfulness and brings happiness for all."  The actions of one man violate many of those principles we hold dear as Auburn men and women, and have in part stolen a part of our history.  Yet he will never steal our memories and he will not steal our joy.

I still believe in Auburn, and love it.