On the First Week of the Semester

Ah, the first week of the semester. Time to deeply inhale the exhilerating feeling of scholarly possibilities, and potential increases in a social life, then exhale the low grades/bitterness/stress from previous terms. At least, that's what I told myself as an undergrad. Now that I'm working on Geraldine, the beginning of the semester means crowds everywhere where it ought to be empty: in the stairwell leading to my office, in the library, surrounding my secret parking spot...

Suddenly I have become a crabby old person who complains about there being too many people at Christmas and Easter mass. "Go home, this pew is for people who come here daily," is what's on their minds as they pretend to innocently pray a rosary before mass starts. In reality, those grouches are planning their Catholic assasination attacks, in which they punch the person to their immediate left and elbow the person standing on their right while making the sign of the cross. "In the name of the Father, the Son and the yeah that's right, I just punched your lights out! Now go to confession and talk about all of your activities that kept you from coming here in the first place!" At least, that's what I always imagined they were thinking... I'm certain there are people in my choir who think that way...

Of course I would never think that on Christmas or Easter, so why do I think that way whenever a new term starts? I find my mind full of thoughts like "yeah, you might be here now, but you'll drop out in two weeks." or "you're only here to find a hot date and as soon as that happens, you won't be back." When did I become such a jerk?

I learned to avoid places such as the student union, bookstore and campus gymnasium during the first few weeks of the term long ago, but the stairwell? And on the 6th floor?! Who wants to visit the philosophy department?!?! That floor is ALWAYS empty! At least once I shove my way through the library entrance my section of the stacks is still diserted: all of my books were still there, waiting for me to pick them up again.

As I fought through the swarming crowds on campus this week, one thought reassured me: this is the midwest and it snows here. Campus will be empty again with the next snow storm, and the peace and solitude I've grown to know and cherish for the last 4.5 years on this campus will return.

Is it snowing yet?