Homecoming has come and gone, and I guess my body is back to normal and ready for class. Having fall break on Monday and Tuesday helped. I think everybody can use that extra recovery time. A&T homecomings have a way of draining energy from people.

This homecoming was different for me. It was like my worst nightmare: I had RESPONSIBILITIES during homecoming.

I usually don’t have a problem with responsibilities, as long as these responsibilities are Monday through Thursday afternoons. Prioritizing (that is a real word, by the way) early in the week allows me to spend the weekend doing other things, like watching football and drinking cases of Corona.

The problems started when, early in the week, one of my co-workers asked me to take pictures of her float during the parade. She asked very nicely, but what she was really saying was, “Take pictures of me or your life is in danger.” I told her I would.

Actually, the parade is my favorite part of homecoming. I like to see different floats, bands and church groups perform. I just like to watch it on my own time, with no responsibilities. But since my life had been threatened, I had to go take the pictures.

My alarm was set for 6:55 a.m. on Saturday morning. When it went off I was on the living room floor. I got up, took a quick shower and grabbed some clothes from the “just a little bit dirty” section of my closet. There was some leftover corned beef in the fridge, which I grabbed for breakfast on my way out.

My stomach started turning before I got to Market Street and I knew what was coming next, but since I had the responsibility of taking photos, I had to keep going. I snapped a few pictures while the parade was in front of the library and proceeded to cut through campus to catch the rest of the action on Lindsay Street.

I got as far as the parking lot beside the bookstore; I had to make a “pit-stop” and the corned beef went flying in all directions. I think some even came out of my nose. I repeated this process twice in somebody’s yard on Lindsay Street. But, I did take the pictures and they came out pretty good.

Next on my list of “things-to-do” was to get pictures and quotes from alumni and people in the area. I noticed a group of people standing a few houses down from where I was taking pictures of the parade. I approached and asked if they would mind me taking a few pictures. One of the guys in the group got suspicious; he thought I was an undercover police officer. Queasy stomach and all, I stood there and explained to him who I was and what I was doing. He finally gave in.

Other responsibilities during the weekend included taking pictures of the football game, interviewing more A&T alumni, helping with football game crowd control and relaying information to people outside who couldn’t get in because the game was sold out.

I don’t mind responsibilities; it’s just better to have a clear head and a settled stomach.

• Chad Roberts