Friday, December 7, 2012

Stomping Ground


This is the view from St. Paul's chapel on the campus of Columbia University where my husband and I were married 26 years ago. I love this campus. It was the place I came to when I first arrived in New York City as an untried 18 year old. I eventually lived in sixteen different places in that neighborhood, dorm rooms and then apartments. I have never left. My future husband and I shared our first kiss in the shadow of the old world lanterns that stood guard on either side of the steps to Low Library. My children played on the red brick and cobblestones of College Walk when they were small and climbed in and out of the fountains. I relish the fact that this hallowed place of learning with it's majestic past and present century architecture and students of all the world's nationalities is my literal back yard. And every winter, as the holidays approach, the tree lined walk becomes a fairy-lit wonderland, illuminating the city that I decided when I was just five years old and visiting Aunt Winnie, was where I was meant to be. Perhaps I already knew Aunt Winnie would one day need me, as I have needed her.




16 comments:

  1. Those lights illuminated your future.

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    1. Ms Moon, I had no idea the degree to which this neighborhood would be my future, I actually dreamed of my children going to my alma mater, but of course, they each chose their own paths, which is as it should be.

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    1. Candice, it does feel romantic sometimes to walk past the place where I first kissed my husband to be!

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  3. I think it's amazing you are still there...

    xoxoxo

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    1. michelle, you would be amazed at how many people i went to school with are still in the neighborhood. my husband thinks its a little weird.

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  4. Oh, I love that second picture. I didn't realize there were ever lions at the Low Library. Even though I lived in New York for a decade, I rarely got up to Columbia and environs -- that was like a distant planet to me in Murray Hill! Ha!

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    1. Steve, i am pretty sure there were lions, but now you are going to make me look it up to make sure! haha. my memory does tend to embellish a story; my family has told me that. will let you know whether this is a case of that malady!

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    2. Steve, turns out I can find no record of lions except in my mind's eye! So weird. I've corrected the post above as it seems we were in the shadow of lanterns not stone lions.

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  5. (Isn't there a post missing here? Did you delete something? :) )

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    1. Steve, i deleted two posts; it was that kind of week, second guessing myself at every turn. The one about my daughter and finals week i deleted because i didn't want to embarrass her; the other one, with the photo of that terrifying suspension bridge, i deleted because i didn't want my heart in my throat every time i came to my blog. I love that you cared ask. :)

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    2. I reinstated the finals post, modified somewhat. my daughter didnt mind.

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  6. Gorgeous post and photos. I love imagining you here in the various stages of your life.

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    1. Elizabeth, this campus has given me whatever i needed at every stage, it's true. Sort of like The Giving Tree, a book I used to resist, but now, belatedly, understand in a different way. xo

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  7. My god that city of yours - you make it so beautiful.

    BTW is your anniversary on Dec 7? That's ours.

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    1. deirdre, we were married in august, but happy anniversary to you!!!!

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