Welcome to Livlife. Where I am living my life out loud, for all to read.

Here it comes: are you ready?

 

Yep, it is time for another brief lesson, which includes interesting tidbits, via me: your bloggist.

 

Today we are dealing with some interesting information about Hamline University (one of the places I work). Hamline awards itself the distinction of being the oldest university in the state of Minnesota, and was, in fact, founded before there was a state. The school was founded in Red Wing, in 1854, whereas MN didn't gain statehood until 1858. And this has little bearing on the path I am following, but I figured since I am teaching you things, I may as well throw this in; Hamline didn't move to its present location in Midway until 1880.

 

Okay, so I came across this next bit because of a student who asked me a question. He wanted to know if Hamline was actually the first university in MN? Evidently he had heard persistent rumors that it was the University of Minnesota that held that honor. So, I looked it up. The U of MN was chartered as a school in 1851 (three years prior to Hamline) but it didn't admit its first student until 1857 (three years after Hamline) so it is debatable which is the first school. I am still going with Hamline, out of loyalty, and common sense (can't have much of a school without students).

 

Well, while I was reading about Hamline, I noticed that it identified their athletic teams as the Pied Pipers of Hamline. I didn't know this. I know, terrible, but I don't go to any sporting events. Nevertheless, I thought this was an interesting mascot name, because I know of a children's tale about the Pied Piper (the article goes on to mention this).  It turns out that in the original tale of the Pied Piper, he was from Hamelin, Germany (pronounced the same as the university; which is evidently why they chose this as their mascot). I always thought that the Pied Piper was a Brothers Grimm story, and turns out it isn't. They just retold it. Interesting, hmm?

 

Finally, while I was looking all of this up and learning this new information, this song kept running through my brain. Come on babe, follow me, I'm the Pied Piper, follow me, I'm the Pied Piper and I'll show you where it's at.  Over and over this kept running through my head; a bit annoying, that. If I had been at home, I would have asked my dad and he would have known, immediately; but I was at work and therefore forced to rely on the internet, yet again.

 

The song is called The Pied Piper, by Crispian St. Peters and was a hit for him in 1966 (which is precisely why my dad would have been all over it).

 

And there you have it, folks, my train of thought. And I just led you right along, almost as if I were saying (singing) Come on babe, follow me, I'm the Pied Piper, follow me, I'm the Pied Piper, and I'll show you where it's at.