It’s almost been a week since Joe Paterno’s passing, and much of the week has been a time for reflection.  All of us here in Athens woke up Sunday morning, January 22, 2012 to the sad news that Paterno was in decreasing health, with even some confusing reports that he had already died (fitting of course that media sources were quick to misreport the final moments even of Joe Paterno’s life).  The uncertainty, though, certainly made everyone here feel very far from the heart of Happy Valley.  Joe wouldn’t have wanted us sitting around reading about his status, so we put our emotions behind us, and 5 of us climbed Mt Lycabettus (“Ly-KAV-a-tos”), which is the highest point in Athens and has the Church of St George at the top.  We could see some of the surrounding islands, as well as the most eastern fringes of the Peloponnese.

 
We came home to find the even sadder news that Paterno had, in fact, passed.  We found out there was going to be a candlelight vigil held that night, so we bought some candles and had our own moment and said a few words for our fallen Coach.  5,000 miles away, and every feeling of being disconnected from Nittany Nation was wiped out.  It’s definitely been a challenging experience witnessing history in State College and watching it on live stream, but the sense of community that comes with being part of the Penn State family is something of which I’ve never felt more a member.

Always faithful to God, it was only fitting that Joe died on a Sunday, and Championship Sunday, none-the-less.  Even more fitting, the Giants, Joe’s hometown team being from Brooklyn, and the Patriots, who Joe came very close to coaching and who currently employees Joe’s successor, Bill O’Brien, won on Championship Sunday to advance to the Super Bowl.  Eh, maybe that all is a stretch to say that is fitting, but on a selfish note, it certainly was fitting for me, being the huge Giants fan that I am.  Planning my Sunday night around watching the game on a spotty Internet feed at 1am until almost 6am paid off.  Never would have thought when I signed up for this trip that I’d have to worry about watching the Giants.  Had I come any previous year, I would have had to read about the games the next morning since we were the first Penn State Athens program to have wireless internet in our apartments.  It just makes the memory of the Super Bowl run that much more memorable. 

As excited as I was, the night and following days were heavily focused on Paterno as we watched the processional through State College, heard from friends back home, and watched the speakers at the memorial service at the Bryce Jordan Center.  Nittany Nation certainly is hurting, but its pride is continuing to mount all over the world. 

Here’s to you, JVP .

Location: Athens