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Tagseye candy is back!
I know, last week you missed the extremely random things I’d been posting, and even the yummy pie. I’m going to veer in a new direction this week, too, for some nostalgia and some (to me) gorgeous buildings.
I might go so far as to say that I think this is the most perfect photograph I have ever taken. It was a complete and total fluke, as well. I was 17 years old, had just arrived at my new institue of higher learning, Bryn Mawr College, and wanted to have some photos to show people when I would be home for fall break. I had a disposable camera, and I just looked up and clicked. This was before I was a tour guide, but I probably traversed a similar path as the one I would introduce to prospective students, walking through Pembroke Arch and up Senior Row, stopping briefly to capture Taylor Hall, the home of my very first college French class (a junior-level course that completely kicked my ass–I never took French again), the president of the college (then the absolutely adored Mary Pat, now Nancy J), and of course, the Taylor Bell (which seniors ring on the last day of finals to celebrate their accomplishments). You can’t see them, but at the bottom of the bell tower are steps, the Senior Steps, where the seniors would sit when the whole school would gather to sing songs to candle- and lanternlight. (Yeah, we have some arcane traditions, quite a few involving fire.)
It was almost eleven years ago to the day that I took these pictures. Wow, how I’ve changed so much since then! This second shot was my first dorm, Rockefeller, my first time living away from home. Linnea‘s mom lived down the hall. My roommate and I had this fabulous two-room space, which looked out on an old tree, and we spent hours sitting on our windowseat (for which her mother made an awesome cushion) thinking about our future lives. Gosh, she was going to be a physician and I was going to be a physicist. Neither of us do those things now.
I guess I’m in this Bryn Mawr remembrance mode because of all the hoopla going on there this weekend. Katharine Hepburn, our most recognized alumna, is being honored with the opening of the Katharine Houghton Hepburn Center (named for Kate’s mom, also an alumna), which “challenges women to lead publicly engaged lives and to take on important and timely issues affecting women.” Lauren Bacall and Blythe Danner (who did not go to BMC) are being given medals from the Center this weekend. Some friends are coming into town to go to the festivities, but I’m too cheap and won’t shell out for even the greatly reduced “young alumnae” price, which still seems too high to me. Some of the celebration will be happening at the Kimmel Center in town, even, so it’s a huge big deal.
Anyway, as all this collegiate stuff is going on, I can’t help thinking back to those days, when I didn’t sit at a desk for 8 hours at a stretch. It’s nice to remember from time to time.
My eye candy requires a lot of words. I know some other people are just posting pretty pictures on Eye Candy Friday, but I’m a word girl, so I hope these aren’t too boring for you all.
10 Responses to eye candy is back!
Your dorm is awesome!!! I can’t imagine living in such a gorgeous building!
I went to Beaver College in Glenside. Some beautiful buildings on that campus too, but I was a commuter student. I didn’t stay on campus (bummer for me. LOL)
I also remember dancing the *maypole* but that was a l-o-n-g time ago.
I came —> <--- this close to going to Bryn Mawr.
I came *this* close to forking over the money for the gala and coming down with E this weekend…I have a perfect dress and everything. Alas in the end I just couldn’t do it, too much. :( I always miss the Mawr this time of year! Thanks for the pics. Who was your roommate?
What a luscious eye candy moment! I love that you are a *wordy* candy girl. I totally enjoyed reading it. And I am so happy that you were my roommate! (enter all warm and fuzzy feelings here…)
Bryn Mawr is the college I wish I had gone too. Sadly in high shool I was fundamentally stupid and said things like “Ew! why would you want to go to school where there are no boys?” I really wish I could go back in time and smack myself upside the head.
oh my gosh! it’s *almost* as beautiful as smith! couldn’t resist a little seven sisters-ly rivalry there. :)
we have some arcane traditions, too. also involving fire. this post made me all nostalgic for my own college days.
“gaudeamus igitur, juvenes dum sumus …”
Anassa kata kalo kale ia ia ia nike, Bryn Mawr, Bryn Mawr, Bryn Mawr!
The festivities are indeed pretty cool – there was a Dar Williams concert last night (actually, two) and I have it on good authority from a Wellesley alum who saw her there, too, that she likes us better (as well she should!). It was fantastic, we all got up and danced to As Cool as I Am, and she took questions and even a couple of song requests at the end.
So, shout-out from a current Mawrtyr! Hum the Goodnight song to yourself for a while and you’ll be as good as back.
Hooley dooley, I thought my uni had some old fashioned traditions but was that a maypole I just saw?!?!
You and I have some odd things in common. I too had a junior-level french class in my first semester at college and never took another french class again, despite having declared it as my intended major!
University buildings are creatures unto their own in the kingdom of buildings aren’t they!
Nice disposable camera shot! And lovely buildings, of course.
Nothing like fall to inspire a mosey down memory lane. Nice that your memories (barring the French class) seem to be so positive. Be sure to contribute to your annual fund every year! (For your readers who don’t know, I’m a higher education fundraiser, not just bossy for no reason.)
i’m a frosh at bryn mawr.. and i live in rockefeller.. and my room overlooks that same tree. ::sigh::