Carolina Alumni Review - July/August 2008

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Romantic Moments

Chapel Hill can be a pretty romantic place — popping the question under the Davie poplar or by the Old Well, strolls in the Coker Arboretum. We asked alumni to share their most romantic moments. Excerpts are below. Read more at alumni.unc.edu/romantic.

“Thanks to a sorority sister, Jane Edwards Hauser ’ 56, who had the lead role in a student production called Encores of ’ 56, I was encouraged to come join in the chorus for this student musical and have some fun. Little did I realize where it would lead. My partner in the chorus turned out to be George Weaver ’ 56 from Arlington,Va. Having come from Stephens College in Columbia, Mo., to Carolina, we had a lot in common, as George was going with a girl from home who was currently at Stephens! What started off innocently enough developed into marriage by June 1958. This June we [celebrated] our 50th wedding anniversary. We have had the pleasure of two of our four sons graduating from UNC, Jeff ’ 82 and Britt ’ 85, and more recently, our grandson, Mark, who is Jeff’s oldest son. A big thrill was having Mark graduate in May of 2006, which was also my 50th reunion at Carolina. A wonderful tradition at Carolina is marching ahead of the graduating class when you celebrate your 50th reunion year. It was especially happy having my grandson in that processional. And to think all of this was made possible when George and I met ‘on stage.’ We also enjoyed returning to UNC when Memorial Hall reopened with Tony Bennett, and we were able to donate a chair to that special hall.”

Helen Wood Weaver ’ 56

Plantation, Fla.

“Valentine’s Day 1971 was ending. The freshman I had been dating for a couple of months and I had spent the whole day together. I suggested that we walk out to Gimghoul Castle and watch the sun set. As we sat on the bench and looked out over the trees toward Durham, I was overcome by emotion and by the absolute certainty that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with this woman. Unplanned and awkward, I attempt-

class quotes

ed to voice my feelings. remained in Chapel Hill working as a ‘If things work out,’ I bartender at Spring Garden in said, thinking of the Carrboro (anyone remember that military draft and other place?) because I didn’t cherish the uncertainties hanging notion of leaving a town and a school over my future, ‘I’d like that had brought me to life in so many to marry you.’ Those important ways. My belongings were were not the words I packed and boxed up. My girlfriend would have liked to (and future wife) and I were headed have used for the most out for one last dinner in Chapel Hill. important request of But as we passed the various restau-my life, but I couldn’t rants — Ham’s, Crook’s Corner, 411, draw them back to try Breadman’s, the Rat, Pepper’s — the

GAA FILES

Whether a special someone or a
again. She turned her special place, Carolina has inspired realization that I could only choose
head, and I panicked at ^romance ^for ^generations ^of ^alumni.one before I was no longer a Chapel
the thought that I had overplayed my hand in Hill resident became overwhelming. Trapped
this brief romance. But she turned back to by my panic and indecision, I pulled over into
me, a tear in her eye, and said, ‘I’d like that, an open parking space in front of Morehead
too.’ It wasn’t the most auspicious beginning, Planetarium and simply began to cry. For a few
but it led to our wedding and 36 wonderful minutes, my tears were safe enough that I could
years together. Of our three children, two are have held onto some illusion of masculinity,
UNC graduates, and one also married a but they quickly evolved into heaving sobs,
UNC alumnus. In all my years at UNC, I the kind no one can really defend. I was
dated many women and enjoyed many breaking up with Chapel Hill, a girl so beau-
romantic moments, but I saved the best to the tiful and intelligent and inspirational she could
end of my senior year and an awkward be loved by hundreds of thousands of us
moment as the sun set on Gimghoul Castle.” without any of us ever feeling too jealous, and
Hal Tarleton ’ 71 it was the worst heartbreak I’d ever felt in my
Wilson entire life. I didn’t want to leave her, even
though she didn’t need me. And Jenni sat in
the passenger seat. And she held me to her
and comforted me. ... There’s nothing more
romantic to me than your true love sitting
patiently and lovingly beside you while you
struggle with the love you feel for another.
She was with me through that moment when
my break-up with Chapel Hill was the most
real. And it can’t be easy to see your boyfriend
so in love with another woman (even if it’s,
well, a place). That was the night Jennifer
Bradburn ’ 95, who understood there was
enough room in my heart for her and for
Chapel Hill, was destined (or doomed!) to
become my partner in life.”

Billy Faires ’ 94 Chattanooga, Tenn.

“My first week at Carolina was quite a shock. As a New Yorker, I had to listen carefully to understand the Southern drawl. I also sprained my ankle. Standing in the dorm lobby one day, I opened my mailbox and said aloud, ‘Oh, no!’ A guy nearby said, ‘What’s wrong?’ I told him I couldn’t possibly walk all the way to the post office on crutches to pick up a package from my parents. He said, ‘I’ll carry you!’ How gallant! This truly was a Southern gentleman! Then he did what every Eastern North Carolina boy would have done — he walked me to his car and DROVE me (read: carried me) to the post office. He’s still ‘carrying me’ with love 30 years later.”