After five weeks in a town with its own yellow brick road, I got to go home to my little college town.
While it was a week earlier than anticipated and partly for reasons that were not enjoyable (a friend’s husband passed away), it was crazy lovely to see that town again.
There’s a landmark on campus you can see from anywhere in town and within a decent amount of distance from the city. For five years, when I saw our campanile, I always knew I got to where I was going, if you catch my drift. Slang terms for the tower run rampant through dorm hallways, but I’ve never paid much attention to those things. After five weeks, I saw the campanile, standing out against a back drop of a pale blue sky and I laughed aloud, zooming down the interstate.
I saw everyone I’ve missed so much. My first stop in town was a dear friend’s house before he left for a weekend in the cities with his older brother. Then I ran out to my old job, where I talked to almost all my old coworkers. I forgot until halfway out there that I don’t have a key anymore, so I drove around until I found a group of manufacturing employees sitting in the sunshine outside a door and sweet talked them into letting me in the building. I love how trusting/ambivalent everyone is about those locked doors. :)
Later on, I went to the wake, had dinner with my best friend and her boyfriend and watched the presidential debate with my favorite married couple. Amanda (the best friend) and I later went to the late show of “My Best Friend’s Girl” which was good, except I had a difficult time staying awake. Actually, I totally sacked out for about five minutes, but we were in the back row and Amanda nudged me awake.
The next morning, Amanda showed me our school’s new wellness center, which I’m totally jealous about, and we went to the bookstore because she found a stash of alumni merchandise I’m going to raid next weekend. Who doesn’t need a mouse pad with a big, blue jackrabbit on it?
Next was the funeral, which was difficult, but not nearly as difficult as it was/will be for the family he left behind. After the funeral, I went back to Amanda’s, ate like half the cookie pile she’d baked while I was at the funeral and then we seriously sat around all weekend. On Sunday evening a big storm rolled through, and I used that as an excuse to stay until early Monday morning. I rolled out of bed, stole the most comfortable blue hoodie I’ve ever encountered in my life and drove home. I’ve officially been awake now for five hours, but I’ll make it.
Next weekend should be more fun, in the traditional sense of “fun”. Homecoming! Woohoo!
While it was a week earlier than anticipated and partly for reasons that were not enjoyable (a friend’s husband passed away), it was crazy lovely to see that town again.
There’s a landmark on campus you can see from anywhere in town and within a decent amount of distance from the city. For five years, when I saw our campanile, I always knew I got to where I was going, if you catch my drift. Slang terms for the tower run rampant through dorm hallways, but I’ve never paid much attention to those things. After five weeks, I saw the campanile, standing out against a back drop of a pale blue sky and I laughed aloud, zooming down the interstate.
I saw everyone I’ve missed so much. My first stop in town was a dear friend’s house before he left for a weekend in the cities with his older brother. Then I ran out to my old job, where I talked to almost all my old coworkers. I forgot until halfway out there that I don’t have a key anymore, so I drove around until I found a group of manufacturing employees sitting in the sunshine outside a door and sweet talked them into letting me in the building. I love how trusting/ambivalent everyone is about those locked doors. :)
Later on, I went to the wake, had dinner with my best friend and her boyfriend and watched the presidential debate with my favorite married couple. Amanda (the best friend) and I later went to the late show of “My Best Friend’s Girl” which was good, except I had a difficult time staying awake. Actually, I totally sacked out for about five minutes, but we were in the back row and Amanda nudged me awake.
The next morning, Amanda showed me our school’s new wellness center, which I’m totally jealous about, and we went to the bookstore because she found a stash of alumni merchandise I’m going to raid next weekend. Who doesn’t need a mouse pad with a big, blue jackrabbit on it?
Next was the funeral, which was difficult, but not nearly as difficult as it was/will be for the family he left behind. After the funeral, I went back to Amanda’s, ate like half the cookie pile she’d baked while I was at the funeral and then we seriously sat around all weekend. On Sunday evening a big storm rolled through, and I used that as an excuse to stay until early Monday morning. I rolled out of bed, stole the most comfortable blue hoodie I’ve ever encountered in my life and drove home. I’ve officially been awake now for five hours, but I’ll make it.
Next weekend should be more fun, in the traditional sense of “fun”. Homecoming! Woohoo!
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