Attn: JMU alumni
I wish I could upload the pictures I took on my camera phone right now. Unfortunately, I'm in a hotel room and I can't do much of anything, much less figure out how to get pictures from my phone to my laptop.
So, in the absence of photographic evidence, allow me to describe my situation and how I currently came to be sitting in a Hampton Inn in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
Rockingham County Public Schools is considered part of my territory. I was able to call on them yesterday and get an appointment to speak to one of the curriculum directors tomorrow. Yippee! Since I was in Lynchburg all afternoon, I decided to hop on over to the 'burg after that and crash here for the night.
A few changes have taken place in the 'burg that JMU alumni will be interested to note:
1. Spanky's has closed. As in....closed forever. As in...no longer in business. I'm devastated. In fact, I don't think I can even talk about it.
2. The downtown Dave's Taverna (formerly Gus' Taverna) is now a 2nd Luigi's restaurant. I had dinner there tonight--it's as good as the other Luigi's and in the spirit of Dave's Taverna, they will still give you a deck of cards when you order a pitcher (I asked).
3. Valley Mall is now called the "old mall" because the new mall was built further up 33, right near the 81 offramps. There is a Starbucks, a Home Depot, a Cold Stone Creamery, a Michael's, and a couple of really nice clothing stores (I think I saw an Ann Taylor, for crying out loud!). One question: Where the hell was this stuff five years ago? Actually--I think it's kind of cool that we didn't have that stuff--it gave me an appreciation for the country that I wouldn't have had if I had been coddled by lattes and Marissa-style pants.
4. Alston's is now called "The Pub" and is about double the size it used to be. So much for going there in your pajamas.
5. There is TRAFFIC on campus. And it's pretty bad, too!
I think that's about it... more to come when I post the pictures from my phone onto the blog.
Man, I wasn't expecting the rush of emotions that came the second I took exit 247A! It's definitely the first time I've been back to Harrisonburg without Brian in a while. When I'm with B in the 'burg, I reminisce about all of our memories. But being here alone is a totally different ballpark. I'm remembering things about my life as a college student that I haven't thought about in years. Joyous memories and really painful ones. I remember:
- falling in love hard and fast and for the first time my freshman year and being absolutely broken hearted when it didn't work out
- the feeling of walking across campus on a warm spring day and seeing the yellow and purple tulips everywhere
- lounging on the hill outside of D-hall with friends and deciding that it was too nice to go to class.
- Greek row...all of the time I spent there and what an incredible journey that was.
- how freakishly beautiful all of the female students at JMU are (no wonder I felt ugly!).
- the dog food smell that perpetually wafted over Harrisonburg, particularly over near Kline's Dairy Bar.
- Mmmmm....Kline's Dairy Bar (tonight's flavor was cookies n' cream!)
- Luigi's cheese sticks and greek salad (which I had for dinner)
- the killer stairs near the stadium
- how passionate I was and how intensely I experienced things in school. This is an interesting memory because I have mixed feelings about it. Part of me really misses being inspired and dramatic and passionate and intense. The other part of me is really grateful that my life is more even-keel now. It makes me wonder--why do I romanticize the past? Is it because I think that my present life isn't as happy or fun or exciting as my old life was? And if so, am I forgetting all of the painful, self-destructive decisions I made (case in point: Sikes)?
That's just a sampling of the memories that came back. More than anything, I just have a really intense, almost tangible, sense of self-nostalgia. I'm remembering who I was back then and how much I have (and have not) changed.
I got to go to a meeting tonight. It happened to be the same meeting I started Al-Anon in. Same church, same night, same time, same room! And as I walked in, there were four people in the room that I remember holding my hand, listening, and giving support to me when I was new in the program almost 8 years ago. It was incredible to see them. My first sponsor, Georgia, was there....still full of piss and vinegar (she's got to be pushing 75 at this point...). We swapped numbers and filled each other in on the major events in our lives since I moved four years ago.
What an amazing gift it was to be able to look these people in the eye and thank them for loving me unconditionally as I fumbled my way into the program. It made me feel instantly reconnected with my HP (as gratitude often does!). I had an amazing sense of well-being as I left that meeting--I feel like I got the opportunity to come full circle, by giving love and gratitude back to the people who nurtured and cared for me all of those years ago.
So tonight I'll go to bed in Harrisonburg, remembering all of the beautiful, sad, joyous, trying, painful, and wonderful experiences I had here.
So, in the absence of photographic evidence, allow me to describe my situation and how I currently came to be sitting in a Hampton Inn in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
Rockingham County Public Schools is considered part of my territory. I was able to call on them yesterday and get an appointment to speak to one of the curriculum directors tomorrow. Yippee! Since I was in Lynchburg all afternoon, I decided to hop on over to the 'burg after that and crash here for the night.
A few changes have taken place in the 'burg that JMU alumni will be interested to note:
1. Spanky's has closed. As in....closed forever. As in...no longer in business. I'm devastated. In fact, I don't think I can even talk about it.
2. The downtown Dave's Taverna (formerly Gus' Taverna) is now a 2nd Luigi's restaurant. I had dinner there tonight--it's as good as the other Luigi's and in the spirit of Dave's Taverna, they will still give you a deck of cards when you order a pitcher (I asked).
3. Valley Mall is now called the "old mall" because the new mall was built further up 33, right near the 81 offramps. There is a Starbucks, a Home Depot, a Cold Stone Creamery, a Michael's, and a couple of really nice clothing stores (I think I saw an Ann Taylor, for crying out loud!). One question: Where the hell was this stuff five years ago? Actually--I think it's kind of cool that we didn't have that stuff--it gave me an appreciation for the country that I wouldn't have had if I had been coddled by lattes and Marissa-style pants.
4. Alston's is now called "The Pub" and is about double the size it used to be. So much for going there in your pajamas.
5. There is TRAFFIC on campus. And it's pretty bad, too!
I think that's about it... more to come when I post the pictures from my phone onto the blog.
Man, I wasn't expecting the rush of emotions that came the second I took exit 247A! It's definitely the first time I've been back to Harrisonburg without Brian in a while. When I'm with B in the 'burg, I reminisce about all of our memories. But being here alone is a totally different ballpark. I'm remembering things about my life as a college student that I haven't thought about in years. Joyous memories and really painful ones. I remember:
- falling in love hard and fast and for the first time my freshman year and being absolutely broken hearted when it didn't work out
- the feeling of walking across campus on a warm spring day and seeing the yellow and purple tulips everywhere
- lounging on the hill outside of D-hall with friends and deciding that it was too nice to go to class.
- Greek row...all of the time I spent there and what an incredible journey that was.
- how freakishly beautiful all of the female students at JMU are (no wonder I felt ugly!).
- the dog food smell that perpetually wafted over Harrisonburg, particularly over near Kline's Dairy Bar.
- Mmmmm....Kline's Dairy Bar (tonight's flavor was cookies n' cream!)
- Luigi's cheese sticks and greek salad (which I had for dinner)
- the killer stairs near the stadium
- how passionate I was and how intensely I experienced things in school. This is an interesting memory because I have mixed feelings about it. Part of me really misses being inspired and dramatic and passionate and intense. The other part of me is really grateful that my life is more even-keel now. It makes me wonder--why do I romanticize the past? Is it because I think that my present life isn't as happy or fun or exciting as my old life was? And if so, am I forgetting all of the painful, self-destructive decisions I made (case in point: Sikes)?
That's just a sampling of the memories that came back. More than anything, I just have a really intense, almost tangible, sense of self-nostalgia. I'm remembering who I was back then and how much I have (and have not) changed.
I got to go to a meeting tonight. It happened to be the same meeting I started Al-Anon in. Same church, same night, same time, same room! And as I walked in, there were four people in the room that I remember holding my hand, listening, and giving support to me when I was new in the program almost 8 years ago. It was incredible to see them. My first sponsor, Georgia, was there....still full of piss and vinegar (she's got to be pushing 75 at this point...). We swapped numbers and filled each other in on the major events in our lives since I moved four years ago.
What an amazing gift it was to be able to look these people in the eye and thank them for loving me unconditionally as I fumbled my way into the program. It made me feel instantly reconnected with my HP (as gratitude often does!). I had an amazing sense of well-being as I left that meeting--I feel like I got the opportunity to come full circle, by giving love and gratitude back to the people who nurtured and cared for me all of those years ago.
So tonight I'll go to bed in Harrisonburg, remembering all of the beautiful, sad, joyous, trying, painful, and wonderful experiences I had here.
posted by GirlRy at 10:20 PM
1 Comments:
oh ry! kath here. i so loved reading your note. and man, can i relate to that INTENSE sense of nostalgia. i get that when i go back to my old college town too - and when i listen to some music! i really look forward to seeing you on monday (the 25th) and being able to chat/relate in person! big hug and much love!!!
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