The college I went to was small at the time. It fit my personality perfectly. I knew most of the people I passed and was comfortable there. There was a green lawn for fun activities, small barbeque grills tucked under the trees for groups to use, and lots of places to explore nearby. There was a terrace to sit outside and observe what was going on while having a beer. I remember the first time I visited the college and found out this place served alcohol on the campus. It seemed to me that they were saying they trusted us. I was impressed.
As time went on, the college grew and changed presidents. I did not know it at the time, but that was the end of an era. There was such a quaint feel about the campus, but all good things must come to an end. The new president started working on tearing down and modernizing buildings. The building where I met my future husband looks like something out of Architectural Digest and is a prominent building now. I’m sure the comfortable couches in the halls, and the wires my husband helped install in the ceilings for computers were not given a second thought. One of my fondest memories is sitting in the hall on a bumpy couch chatting with a guy who would later be known as the best “wingman” ever. He was in our wedding.
As I drive down a back road near my college, I am reminded of the cute houses that once stood there. I look out at the dirt piles and construction vehicles and see only greed for some reason. I realize that time does not stand still and that change happens whether I want it to or not. But the slick brand-new appearance of what was once my old college does not appeal to me anymore. It’s like getting rid of your favorite pair of jeans that you have worn for so long and buying into the latest craze. My college has turned into jeggings.
“Nothing makes us more vulnerable than loneliness, except greed.” ~Thomas Harris
