“Maryland I”m Coming Home”
In between writing in my journal I’d galnce up as the train took me closer and closer to the world I’d known in college and breathe a contented sigh. Grass, trees, open sky, space between the houses. While 4 years in suburbia was defintley enough for me I’d forgotten how much I’d missed the balance of living in the city part of the year and semi-nature the other half.
My train arrived at BWI at 11:47 sunday morning. I smiled as I exited onto the platform and looked around. The last time I’d been here was for Maggie’s wedding back in November. Then it had made me sad, knowing that this was now my past, now it just felt nice. Bethann met me at the top of the overpass. We fell into an easy banter as we heading bak to her car and on the road to UMBC. I never thought I’d be so happy to see The Loop again. We drove all the way around, noting the new construction as well as the stuff that was finally finished. We parked in the westhill lot by the old hillcrest building and got out. I forgot how quiet it is without the traffic and noises of the city! Still it felt as if I’d never left. As we passed severn I was half ready to run up t o the 2nd floor and knock for Amand before I remembered neither of us live there anymore.
We walked down library field and over to the new UC. It was neat to see it finally complete. They only started buliding it my sohomore year! The extra space and facilities are nice but man is it ugly. They’re trying way too hard to have a hip, trendy, yet retro place and the result is a a mish mash of wacky furnature, pastel painted walls and a layout resmbling a giant maze. I did like the new book store though. It’s a shame it was closed for the day.
After touring the new UC Bethann needed money so we went to the mac at the old UC. It was comletely empty. The Pub is no more and the bookstore and yum shoppe are all borded up. It made me sad to see it all changed.
Next we went to the library. Talk about a sight for sore eyes! Went to the 7th floor of the glass enclosed building and looked out at the perfect views of campus and out on the horizon to baltimore. Also enjoyed the UMBC t-1 connection and the oh-so-comfy chairs. Bethann’s friend Amy met up with us at the library. They’re both in grad school at Pitt but Amy is working for NSA this summer and is living in Westhill. She and I didn’t really click so when we left the library to meet head to her apt I went the roundabout way by library pond while they walked straight up the hill. It was nice though to have the time to just be with my memories. I’d spent a good part of my time on campus reading and studying in the grass by the pond. I laid there for a couple minutes before walking over the foot bridge past the field where I got my first kiss and up to along with winding path by the water tower — which wasn’t there until my sophomore year. I was happy to discover that the new garage they built this year in the grass behind the library had not blocked the winding path I used as a shortcut to class from my apartment in westhill. I slowly made my way up and back to the parking lot to meet Bethann and Amy. Wee hung out at Amy’s for a while. IT was on tv; hadn’t seen that movie in years. It passed the time while Bethann chatted with Amy about pitt stuff and I talked a little with Amy’s roomates. Around 2 we left and headed for Maggie’s. While a lot had changed on campus, UMBC on a sunday is defintely still UMBC on a sunday…