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showing my dedication Even before I pulled my car out of the garage, I was having my usual beginning of the semester mixed emotions. Part of me resents having to give up some of my weekend. While another part of me knows that if I didn't have school to challenge me, work would grind on my nerves that much faster. Of course the weather had to make my first trip back to campus even more memorable by snowing. Looking out my window I was dreading the drive to the east side. I had twenty five miles ahead of me that may or may not have been cleared of snow. Thankfully once I crawled up the ramp to the interstate the worst of the road conditions were over. In fact it wasn't until I was right next to the lake that the drifting across the road became a problem again. Once I got to the campus there was another hurdle. The university manages to keep the sidewalks clear, but the people that live near the campus seem less concerned about whether or not there is snow on the cement. Now in their defense maybe some of these people were at work and wouldn't get a chance to clear the sidewalk until they got home, but there were others who cleared their driveway and that was it. What I do know for certain is that my ankles got a workout on the uneven surface of what passed for a sidewalk. Class went well and I am glad that I was there instead of using the weather as an excuse not to go. What made it worthwhile was that there were six people from the class that I had last semester so it was a small reunion of sorts. Being surrounded by people with similar goals and experiences is nice. Not only was the class a success, but my subsequent trip to the bookstore afterwards was also a pleasant experience. Okay, maybe smelling that many bundled bodies in small store wasn't that much fun, but I did get the book I needed for class without wasting too much time. The best part of my afternoon was the quiet walk back to my car after the bookstore. Ever so gently snow was falling to the ground and at that moment I appreciated winter. As I have said before snow behind the wheel of a car it might not be that much fun, but on foot it really does transform the landscape into something special. If I had had more free time, I wouldn't have minded just walking for a little longer to enhance the effect. |