You definately can not revisit those old high school visions.
I'll start at the end and go backwards. How do I feel as we pull away, down that long hill, the school becoming tiny in my rearview mirror? Mostly depressed and alittle angry. Like I bought a diamond off of the internet and when it arrived, it was plastic and fake. The school I remember no longer exists. Even the buildings that havent been replaced or refurbished look alien. In most cases, if the placards werent on the buildings I wouldnt know which was which. Except for Mackay House (the older boys dorm, where I spent ALOT of time).
When we first arrived we wandered haphazardly until we found the office. I met Judy, whom I had e-mailed several times, and she asked if we wanted a "tour". I balked. A tour? I know this place like the back of my....well, you get the idea. So off we went.
Quinn House (the girls dorm, and brand new in 1985) is where I had lived for 2 years. I was alittle taken back by how run down and old it looked. Who am I kidding? 23 years will do that, wont it. After taking in most of the buildings we headed for the back path, which I preyed was still there. It was the only place I really wanted to see. Itt was called Goldings Path now, has a little sign posted and everything. It was just THe Back Path to us. The kids DIDNT want me to drag them down. "Where does this go???" "Mawm, theres too much bugs!!!" "My new shoes are getting WET!" And on and on. Friggin kids. Ruining my whole experience. I have so many memories of this section of the woods, I spent a huge amount of time here.The original path had a deviation in it but it reached the brook (the little wooden bridge was still there!) and then it petered out. We looked for the continuation of the path to the old Netherwood campus but it was gone. 23 years of overgrowth will do that I guess. Once we got back to the campus I had a real urge to just get out of there.
Beyond the school, everything was new. Only a few landmarks remained from 20 years ago. Shadow Lawn, an abandon Irving station that we used to buy cigarettes at, and a small park in the middle of town.
Why did I go back? Was I hoping that it would inspire me? I do feel a transition coming in my life but I didnt connect it with anything happening here. I dunno. Anyway, I can say I've been back, even if it was only brief.
Thats enough for today, the melancholy is setting in.
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