A rainbow to call my own
So, there I was, bursting through those wooden doors, to be confronted by wide open spaces, beautiful art adorning the walls, huge floor-to-ceiling windows along the back wall. It was a completely different universe. My mind had the utmost trouble reconciling the inner image with the image newly created by the visual feast.
Mind you, I love the new library. I could envision myself stretched out on a comfy lounge-chair, with a book in hand. I could envision myself walking along the bookshelves, gently brushing my fingers along the spines of the books. I could envision myself sitting in a corner and doing absolutely nothing, just sitting quietly for hours.
As I exited the main UBC library last weekend, I noticed a rainbow at my feet. I had actually not intended to revisit my old alma mater that day at all. I had driven to the beach, to take in the glorious day, but could not find parking. I kept driving along the shore, and somehow, I ended up by UBC. It was as though something subconscious within me knew that I was supposed to see the new library, to find that rainbow by my feet.
Everything considered, I still miss my old library -- my dark corridors, my low ceilings, my musty volumes -- if for no other reason than the feeling that it was mine. It's too bad that I had decided not to return to UBC this semester to take my new courses. I would never be able to claim those prisms of light, those rainbows, as mine. Instead, I'm up the mountain at Simon Fraser. I have yet to find a space there to call my own, my little escape, my sitting, breathing space. Maybe I'll start my search on Monday.
I have yet to see the new library, but I gotta say, I won't miss the old dungeon!
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