ME: Self, you need to get out of this funk.
SELF: I know. What will people think? I can't just talk about sleep deprivation and stress all the time, they'll worry about me.
ME: Yeah, so... Tell me something good!
SELF: Ok, ummm... well, the novelty of living in a new place hasn't worn off yet.
ME: Good! Let's tell the people about that.
SELF: Yeah, because they don't get to see this stuff everyday, and as NBC would say, "If you haven't seen it, it's new to you!"
My mornings have started off the same way for the last three weeks, yet the landmarks and people that are part of that routine are still quite novel to me. I take the early bird shuttle to campus every morning, and I wish I had a video of my driver because he is absolutely delightful. When he drops off his little troop of early birds, he always says, "Y'all get to wakin' up now!" among various other -isms he regularly uses. I also wish I had a video of the guy that bee-bops down the median of University Parkway, selling newspapers in the morning. He sort of conducts to the music that plays over his headphones while nodding in rhythm with his conducting and bee-bopping as he points to the drivers of the cars that pass by. My shuttle driver gets a special point - the bee-bopping newspaper salesman prolongs his point at my shuttle driver with two hands in a Usain Bolt sort of pose. I wonder if he knows how cool my shuttle driver is, too? Is that why he gets a special point and nod?
Now, to put my morning ride into context, you must know that I park in the boonies, aka the lot by the football stadium. Because people tailgate in this lot, it is complete with port-a-potties and tailgate vehicles that haven't moved yet this fall, AND I get a great view of the stadium EVERY DAY. The port-a-potties are significant because yesterday, as I arrived at about 7:10 am for the early bird shuttle, I watched in horror as a fellow early bird entered the port-a-potty pictured to the right, did her business, returned to her car to grab her bookbag, and boarded the shuttle with me. Seriously?! It takes all types to make this world go 'round, I suppose.
This morning provided a much nicer view: I think they were testing the jumbo-tron at the stadium, so it was all lit up, bright and early, with no one to see but me and the guy walking laps in the parking lot. Apparently the jumbo-tron knew it was early because it demanded QUIET.
If we're Facebook friends (and who am I NOT Facebook friends with? Besides my grandma and grandpa who read the print version of my blog. Yes, the print version - the one that my mom prints for them. Hi Grandma and Grandpa!), you are already aware that going to a small, D-I school is like the Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana concert tour: the best of both worlds. I relish the view of BB&T Field that is a part of my morning routine. From Deacon Tailgate Town tucked away in a little wooded area to the bronze statue of the Demon Deacon to the perfect lines that the grounds workers mowed into the grass this morning - it's such a great part of my morning view.
And once I get to campus, I take my little walk to Carswell Hall in the silent, morning air. After mounting the stairs to the second floor, I open the oddly asymmetrical double-doors to greet IDF and Minor League. Why all the doors in Carswell are like this, I don't know. I bet my dad has an answer for that. I think about the rationale for those asymmetrical doors every time I walk through them.
Yesterday, I found myself missing the "familiarity" and "predictability" of the last five years of my life - work, friends, family, Ada. I think I just had a revelation about my newfound familiarity and predictability, which I really didn't originally intend to include in this post, but that's where my thoughts have led me. Welcome to the new normal, people (to steal from NBC once again).
Peace, love, and my awesome shuttle driver--
Emily
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