Two of a kind: Mother and son pair can be spotted in the Bear’s Den and in Vegas Casinos
By Elizabeth Sekkes
Comment Staff
During the noon rush hour in the Rondileau Campus Center Bears’ Den, swarms of students gather to replenish and refuel before tackling their afternoon classes. As lines rapidly form and tables are selected, the dining hall fills with loud chatter and laughter as friends and roommates start up conversations.
Amongst the chaos, a smiling, slender, white haired Sodexo employee moves from table to table with a wet dish cloth in hand, and cleans the surface of each table for the next batch of hungry students.
This Sodexo employee can be seen making her rounds throughout the Bears’ Den on most days, always with her ready dish cloth in hand.
However, as of last week, the Sodexo employee, Lois Carson, was trying her luck in Vegas.
“Both of us like to gamble,” said Carson, in reference to her son who was her travel companion.
Carson has worked as a utility worker at Bridgewater State University for 17 years. She first became involved in the job through various family ties.
“My two grandchildren graduated from here,” Carson said. “It was my granddaughter that got me the application. My daughter got her master’s degree here. And now I’m here.”
The 87-year-old, Las Vegas gambling, lipstick wearing Carson said age is only a small detail in her animated and active life.
“I don’t care about my age,” Carson said. “It’s just a number. I don’t feel old. I feel like I could dance over you. I love to dance.”
Carson has three children, three grandchildren, and four great grandchildren, and her son, Davy Carson, also works in the Bears’ Den with her. Davy said it is a lot of fun to work alongside his mom.
“It’s awesome,” Davy said. “We laugh all the time. She’s always been like that.”
When Davy Carson won a trip to Vegas through an online entry, he said it was a no brainer that his mom would be his travel companion of choice.
Carson and her son also recently bought a house together. They frequently enjoy indulging in their shared love of gambling.
“We’re going to Foxwoods next week,” said Davy Carson. “It’s just fun to go.”
When she isn’t trying her luck at the casinos, Carson spends her time working at BSU where she said she enjoys the social aspect the job brings her.
“I like people,” Carson said. “I’ve never hated my job anywhere I’ve worked. That’s very unusual. I’ve just been lucky, I think.”
Carson gives credit to her job success to kindness.
“…I think you’ve got to be nice,” Carson said. “If you’re nice to people they’ll be nice to you.”
Despite the fact that her husband died at the age of 55, Carson has always looked at the bright side of things in life.
“I’ve always been positive,” Carson said.
Carson said her philosophy in life is to rely on personal intuition and family.
“By my gut,” Carson said. “I’ve made a lot of mistakes, but you learn by your mistakes. I’ve got a wonderful family. I think that’s what keeps me going.”
Elizabeth Sekkes is the Comment’s News Editor. Email her at esekkes@student.bridgew.edu
