For the first time since May, I was back on my campus. Back in the town I lived in for last four years, the one I came to know as my second home. Suddenly I’m an outsider, just one of the alumni in on Friday, out by Sunday.
It was so much fun to be there again, seeing all the familiar landmarks and driving around like I had my daily errands to take care of. In no way did it seem like I haven’t been there in five months, or that it’s not where I actually live anymore. In fact, I drove right by our old apartment and almost instinctively turned in, parked, and ran up to the door. I got this sudden home-sick feeling, wishing that my roommates were inside of the window I could see, and I could just run up the stairs and walk in.
Other than staying with a friend, and not in my own digs, the weekend felt completely normal. I went to Target Friday night to look around, I had a haircut appointment, I went to say hi to the kids I babysat, I went for a run around campus Saturday morning (which was absolutely gorgeous, can’t beat the bright fall colors on the East Coast), and I bought more shirts to add to my collection of college paraphernalia. You really can’t have too many of those. One shirt says “alumni,” which is my way of trying to get that little fact to soak in.
Surprisingly, it wasn’t too hard to get up and drive back today. I thought I’d be dramatically dragging my feet, dreading the homework, laundry, and grocery shopping that awaited me. Instead, it was just a matter of fact. That was then, this is now. I had my four years to enjoy the town, and now I get to come back and appreciate it. I get to proudly flaunt my shirts and hoodies, and my diploma that says I no longer have to worry about 8 a.m. lectures, 20-page papers, and final-exam schedules. Instead I carry my “Alumni Association” card, and enjoy the power of this extensive network of people who love that place as much as I do.
There will always be the part of me that visits and thinks “back in our days here….”, but now there’s also a part of me that just loves that I had those days.
Posted by Mary Ellen Nunes at 11/05/2008 11:32:49 AM