First Day Of College: Redux

Long ago, in a lifetime far, far away...

I was a bright-eyed eighteen year old in a yellow oxford cloth shirt, khaki shorts and docksiders, walking across my new campus on a hot August Sunday, heading to my last day of Freshman orientation.

I don't remember a thing from orientation, but I remember that moment, frozen in time. I remember wishing it was really fall- crisp and cool with colorful leaves. I remember how sunny and hot it was. That moment was full of "what if...?" A moment of endless possibility and pure joy, unmarred by worry or stress.

That year was marked with highs and lows; seemingly effortless A's in English, Theater and Music: W/F in Calculus, but I didn't stress it too much. It was a wonderful year of school, socializing, fencing (yes, fencing!) and fun.

Fast forward my life say, oh twenty seven years...

I am a slightly less bright-eyed forty-five year old, hauling ass across campus in ten minutes because art history is on the other side of the world from theatre performance studies. All around me swarm bright-eyed eighteen to twenty-somethings, most in shorts or sweats and flip-flops (!). Most seem to know where they're headed, but I see plenty of freshmen, who like me, have their campus maps in hand and look just a little dazed and confused.

On this day, there was no specially reserved wardrobe- just some black capris and a purple tee- but I did take the time to wear my funky purple satin windowpaned canvas sneakers, my own private sut to the girl who strode these sidewalks so many years ago.

At the end of my first round of four classes, I came home, got my daughter to her afterschool program, cooked for my family, and headed back to campus for one last class- poetry. I then went to the grocery store, got my daughter ready for bed and fell onto my own mattress aware of every muscle below my waist. There was also a not-unpleasant tingle and buzz in my brain... I am using myself in ways I have not for a very, very long time.

So far, so good... :)