This Is A True Story — Donna Hopkins

This will sound like a made up story, or at the very least, an embellished one. But I promise you, it is true. The day began as many days do. We decided to take a short day trip down Route 1, heading toward Richmond, with no particular destination or goal other than to have a lunch date together. We pulled over to take pictures of this table and chairs on the porch of an abandoned building where it looked as though repairs or restoration might be in the works.

The thrift shops in Ashland, Virginia are some of the nicest in the area. They always have an interesting collection of donations; I never know what I might find. The yearbooks caught my eye. They were out of place, not in the book section of the store as I would expect. The graphic illustration on the cover of the one book was simple and yet striking. I did notice that the yearbook was from MCV (Medical College of Virginia), which is where I graduated college. The title, X-Ray, led me to believe the volume might be dedicated to the students of the radiology department. But when I picked up the book to study its contents more carefully, I was totally surprised to see these two volumes included all of the allied health professions, including physical therapy, from the exact years I attended MCV (1981-1983). There I was in the group photograph, tucked in among my classmates! I know that I was one of only two married students in the class. And I also know that I definitely did not have any extra money during that time of my life and would not have even considered purchasing a yearbook. But here was this book with memories of the beginnings of my professional career . . . and the realization that as I pressed on with my life, I never really celebrated that achievement. I was the first member of my family to go to college and the first to pursue a professional career. A classic over-achiever, I was valedictorian of my college class. There is a long story behind my need to be perfect, to achieve and strive, to always go above and beyond, and this is all rooted in the protective patterns I developed as a child. Looking back now, I am able to understand my ambition and feel proud of myself. This might actually be the first time I’ve allowed myself to sit with those feelings from so long ago. I won’t say the donated yearbooks were meant for me, but I will say I am glad I found them.

*Medical College of Virginia, Yearbooks, 1982 and 1983*

*Can You Spot Me? Top photo, left side, second row from the bottom*

This story is pretty amazing, all on its own. But there is more. As we continued our adventure, we stopped at Class and Trash in Ashland—another great shop with a mix of antiques, handmade items, vintage treasures, home decor, and junk. I always walk the perimeter of this store outside before entering because there are often photographic opportunities. I couldn’t believe it when I noticed the large green metal sign from William & Mary leaning against the side porch. The sign read, Millington Hall, 500 Landrum Drive. We recognized the sign immediately because both Dave and I attended William & Mary. We both majored in Biology, and most of our core classes were held in Millington Hall! We had heard that the old science building had been torn down to make room for more modern classrooms. It’s a wonder that the sign ended up here.

*William & Mary, Millington Hall Sign, at Class and Trash, August 2025*

I’m not a person who looks for signs that things are right. I believe there are multiple good choices for most situations and that we humans have a profound ability to justify our decisions. When I can’t decide between two good things, sometimes I just flip a coin and go with it. And things usually work out pretty well. But it was still a treat to experience a day where we could see the origin, the path, and the destination. All in one day, like a movie reel of our lives together.