My Own Path
I decided to go for a walk a little earlier to get a feel for my new campus, my new home. By the end of my time spent at UNT, walking through campus was almost a comfort, like an old friend whom had an undying loyalty for me. I wanted to orient myself to this new campus in much the same fashion, so I decided that I'd follow the little graveled path that lies behind my apartment building to campus.
I felt the satisfying crunch of gravel as I made my ascent up the first hill that led the way to school. The sun was blaring at me as it was making its descent, soon to fall behind the silouette of the mountains. There was the pleasant lilt of a plant that I couldn't identify on the breeze, and it was just enough to hint at the wildness of the brush-clad landscape that lay beyond the graveled path. As I got to the top of the first hill, I paused a moment to admire the view that lay before me. Massive mounds of earth that jutted up from the earth like juggernauts framed the busy city flowed around its feet. I marveled at the rush of the cars beneath me. The quick-paced urban life this close to such untrammeled wildness. I remembered this feeling from the days when my hometown used to have miles and miles of farm land right next to it. It was just a short drive to the country. It was a feeling that I missed often.
As I continued along the path, glancing back at the mountainrange until the brush obscured it from view, I came upon various unique looking flowers and cacti that I stopped to inspect. Crickets chirped and various bugs buzzed around, all going about their daily routine. Colorful birds flew across my path. It was all very surreal. Just being on that bluff all by myself, enjoying the scenery at that moment was calming.
I soon came upon the sprawl of my school. Before descending the last hill, I stopped to snap a picture, hopefully for the benefit of all those back home. I trotted down the last hill, being that it was rather steep. I soon began walking through the newer part of campus. I walked past the newer part of campus, noting the newer architecture that was interlaced the with vast courtyards of the dorms, comprable to those of the Bruce courtyards back home, only these were newer and more well kept. There was a metallic statue of Pan Horus, a creature of Greek and Roman mythology, playing his pipes in one of the courtyards. The realization then hit me that the way some of these newer structures were built was a bit of an homage to greek and roman arcitecture. Indeed, as I walked past Columbine Hall, the building where all of my classes are located, I became fully aware of the great columns that were at the front of the building. It seemed that everything here was newer and more open than the buildings of UNT.
I continued to walk through campus, first past the gigantic library that holds the clock tower, its distinctive frame looming over the rest of the campus. As I walked, I noted that the buildings here were both a little older and made of brick, yet still did not clash with the rest of the campus. They were also distinctively tiered, presumably so each floor could have a view of the mountains. I passed the University Center and the parking lots that were by now mostly empty, save for one lone bus who had no choice but to follow his charted route, even in the summer.
I walked further into campus where many lush evergreens lined the paths and sprinklers were not sprinkling their intended targets, but instead the sidewalk. I ran through a few curtains of water with a little childlike joy and a little adultlike annoyance. Yet, the water felt cool and satisfying on my face in the beating sun. I walked up towards the main hall, and then decided to see if I could use this path to circle back to the path that lead me to my apartments. I walked past Dwight hall, and I came to a dead end. As I stopped at the edge of the concrete, I saw a jackrabbit dart off out of the corner of my eye. Again, here was the wildness that I so loved right on the edge of campus.
Instead of following the path all the way in the opposite direction, I decided that I'd go ahead and double back and head for home. My venture out into campus had been a fruitful one. I walked back through the joyful bothersome water curtains, back past the parking lots and the main buildings, passing a couple holding hands along the way. The sun was now beating in my eyes. It hadn't yet reached the mountains. I walked back the rest of the way squinting and occasionally turning my head to admire the view or the courtyards.
As I ventured back up the incredibly steep path that led back home, I began panting. My lungs have not yet acclimated themselves to the thinness of the air here. When I got to the top, I paused for a moment to catch my breath and to look out over the campus. It did not yet feel like home. I was looking forward to the time when it would.
I continued on, smelling the various scents that were on the air, and I was reminded of a time when I was a Girl Scout, out hiking in the woods, enjoying the delicious scents to be had there. It comforted me, bringing with it a wave of nostalgia and completeness that I hadn't allowed myself to feel in a long while. At the same time, I was reminded of the tarot card, The Hermit. The Hermit depicts an old man holding a lantern, walking alone down a path. It is a card of introspection and guidance. I have always taken my own path, and now, more than ever, it feels like I have done so. Briefly I wondered where this path might take me, and then I let the thought pass, to allow for a greater appreciation of the scenery as I came to that final hill that overlooked the city. I paused again to allow the feeling of it to permeate me, and then I continued back down the pathway towards my apartments.
I felt the satisfying crunch of gravel as I made my ascent up the first hill that led the way to school. The sun was blaring at me as it was making its descent, soon to fall behind the silouette of the mountains. There was the pleasant lilt of a plant that I couldn't identify on the breeze, and it was just enough to hint at the wildness of the brush-clad landscape that lay beyond the graveled path. As I got to the top of the first hill, I paused a moment to admire the view that lay before me. Massive mounds of earth that jutted up from the earth like juggernauts framed the busy city flowed around its feet. I marveled at the rush of the cars beneath me. The quick-paced urban life this close to such untrammeled wildness. I remembered this feeling from the days when my hometown used to have miles and miles of farm land right next to it. It was just a short drive to the country. It was a feeling that I missed often.
As I continued along the path, glancing back at the mountainrange until the brush obscured it from view, I came upon various unique looking flowers and cacti that I stopped to inspect. Crickets chirped and various bugs buzzed around, all going about their daily routine. Colorful birds flew across my path. It was all very surreal. Just being on that bluff all by myself, enjoying the scenery at that moment was calming.
I soon came upon the sprawl of my school. Before descending the last hill, I stopped to snap a picture, hopefully for the benefit of all those back home. I trotted down the last hill, being that it was rather steep. I soon began walking through the newer part of campus. I walked past the newer part of campus, noting the newer architecture that was interlaced the with vast courtyards of the dorms, comprable to those of the Bruce courtyards back home, only these were newer and more well kept. There was a metallic statue of Pan Horus, a creature of Greek and Roman mythology, playing his pipes in one of the courtyards. The realization then hit me that the way some of these newer structures were built was a bit of an homage to greek and roman arcitecture. Indeed, as I walked past Columbine Hall, the building where all of my classes are located, I became fully aware of the great columns that were at the front of the building. It seemed that everything here was newer and more open than the buildings of UNT.
I continued to walk through campus, first past the gigantic library that holds the clock tower, its distinctive frame looming over the rest of the campus. As I walked, I noted that the buildings here were both a little older and made of brick, yet still did not clash with the rest of the campus. They were also distinctively tiered, presumably so each floor could have a view of the mountains. I passed the University Center and the parking lots that were by now mostly empty, save for one lone bus who had no choice but to follow his charted route, even in the summer.
I walked further into campus where many lush evergreens lined the paths and sprinklers were not sprinkling their intended targets, but instead the sidewalk. I ran through a few curtains of water with a little childlike joy and a little adultlike annoyance. Yet, the water felt cool and satisfying on my face in the beating sun. I walked up towards the main hall, and then decided to see if I could use this path to circle back to the path that lead me to my apartments. I walked past Dwight hall, and I came to a dead end. As I stopped at the edge of the concrete, I saw a jackrabbit dart off out of the corner of my eye. Again, here was the wildness that I so loved right on the edge of campus.
Instead of following the path all the way in the opposite direction, I decided that I'd go ahead and double back and head for home. My venture out into campus had been a fruitful one. I walked back through the joyful bothersome water curtains, back past the parking lots and the main buildings, passing a couple holding hands along the way. The sun was now beating in my eyes. It hadn't yet reached the mountains. I walked back the rest of the way squinting and occasionally turning my head to admire the view or the courtyards.
As I ventured back up the incredibly steep path that led back home, I began panting. My lungs have not yet acclimated themselves to the thinness of the air here. When I got to the top, I paused for a moment to catch my breath and to look out over the campus. It did not yet feel like home. I was looking forward to the time when it would.
I continued on, smelling the various scents that were on the air, and I was reminded of a time when I was a Girl Scout, out hiking in the woods, enjoying the delicious scents to be had there. It comforted me, bringing with it a wave of nostalgia and completeness that I hadn't allowed myself to feel in a long while. At the same time, I was reminded of the tarot card, The Hermit. The Hermit depicts an old man holding a lantern, walking alone down a path. It is a card of introspection and guidance. I have always taken my own path, and now, more than ever, it feels like I have done so. Briefly I wondered where this path might take me, and then I let the thought pass, to allow for a greater appreciation of the scenery as I came to that final hill that overlooked the city. I paused again to allow the feeling of it to permeate me, and then I continued back down the pathway towards my apartments.