I drive past or very near the University of New Mexico main campus at least once a week, if not more. But I haven't been on campus in quite a while. Last week, I was there twice.

Eighteen years ago, I graduated from UNM (I was a winter semester graduate, because I just couldn't wait to get out and be unemployed). As the years went by after that, I went on campus less and less. Finally, most of my friends graduated (or stopped going). And then there were pretty much no reasons to walk on campus for anything.

One of the guys in my band is going to UNM now. The young one (although he is non-traditional, being 27) who can play pretty much any of the instruments we use. He's taking a video class this year, and asked at practice last week if I could act a part in his final project. I was to be a sports announcer.

I got the script on Wednesday, we did a few run thrus that night at the director's house, and then I went on campus to shoot Thursday night. It was cold at nearly six in the p.m. But the campus, when I ventured into it (between buildings that weren't there when I attended), was still pretty busy. It was the week before finals, and everyone had to get their shit done. I could see architecture students bent over their desks inside the pretty new architecture building (and the bike racks, many more than when I went, were full). It was pretty easy to find the building and basement where Media Arts was, even though Brand didn't know the name of it.

Everyone, except for the teachers, was pretty much half my age. How did I know Brandon? Well, we've been in a band for three and a half years (this, by the way, is a long time to 20 year olds). I didn't tell them I graduated 18 years earlier or that I was pushing 40. And I certainly didn't mention that I was twice their age, that I've had whiskey older than their whiskers or anything else that might have tipped the conversation into awkward silence.

I did okay. I struggled with my first line (I kept trying to re-write it, and basically busted on it a few times), but after that I was fine. I'm sure it'll be fine. They should get an A. At least that's my feeling. But I'm not a Media Arts professor. I'm sure grades are based on more than "They did it! Weee!"

The students, at least these ones, were enthusiastic, if not tired. The end of the semester is a blur of getting all the projects done, and pretty much all at once. Sleeping happens when it can, and mostly after it's all done. I could see some wear and tear on the young faces from the end of the semester race.

On Saturday, my younger brother and I had to pick up some Christmas gifts at the UNM bookstore. We eventually settled on something, and I picked up a calendar for myself. Possibly the first time in a decade I bought a calendar before the beginning of the year. And this is my habit when I go shopping for gifts. One for you, one for me. I get what I want this way, and it takes the pressure off the gifts I get from others. I'm never disappointed.

On the way out of the bookstore, Aaron picked up a flyer for a student art sale. It was the 17th annual print art sale, where students sell off art they made for class. We wandered through the classrooms and sorted through the stacks and mounds of graphic design, photos and some pottery (I barely glanced at the pottery...not my thing). Both of us found something that "struck" us one way or another.

I look at it as giving something back to the university I graduated from. I don't give them money otherwise. I don't go to homecoming (it seems kinda weird since I live in the same town). And I don't go to sporting events either (I watch many on TV, though). If I could play the lottery, I would, and thirty cents of every dollar would go to scholarships for kids in NM to go to college. If I won the lottery, I might decide to give UNM some money.

But our football team sucks (one win for the third season in a row). Our men's basketball team is pretty good (although they only scored 44 in their win last night against UCLA). Our men's soccer team was ranked number one and didn't lose a game all year. But they lost in the tournament by shootout. Still, not bad.a

I guess the kids are alright.

Matt Worley roots for his alma mater. Beat State, dammit!