As the spring semester of my son’s sophomore year in college comes to a close, I'm not going to lie -- he does miss being on campus.  But an interesting phenomenon has unfolded in my house.

Eric is a chemical engineering major. He has a pretty rigorous course load and there is little room for courses outside of a science and math curriculum. But, to fulfill a requirement, he took an American history course this semester covering post-Civil war period through the present. Interesting coursework with a fascinating professor.

One night, Eric asked Bill if he wanted to watch his lecture. That one invitation turned into twice a week father and son bonding time over American history. Together they watched the professor talk about some period in American history, which was always followed by conversation. Some of that conversation was personal since Bill had actually lived through some of the periods in time covered in class and shared his recollection and experience.

Tonight, was the ultimate way to end the semester. Where is Eric? I asked as I walked into the bedroom finding Bill watching a history lecture but without his son. Turns out, Eric had to listen to the final lecture during the day – and Bill spent the night watching the lecture.

I think they both deserve “A+” in the class.  And, how nice an experience that they would never have had but for an awful virus and a world turned upside down.