A unicyle and nostalgia

I now work where I went to college - and daily I'm reminded about what a lovely, wonderful experience I had x number of years ago. It's more years than I'd care to mention and that just kind of sneaked up on me.

I went to the University of Kansas and adored it. Simply loved it. I majored in journalism, so after two years of liberal arts I was accepted into the journalism school and began working for the university daily newspaper. I made some of the best friends of my life.

Now all these years later, I have a job on campus, in a building right across the street from the journalism school, and the newsroom where I spent countless hours - daytime hours, nighttime hours and unspeakable early morning hours. Ah, the energy of youth. Campus is about 40 minutes or so from my home in the KC metro 'burbs. Not only do I love KU, but I love its hometown of Lawrence.

Today when I pulled into Lawrence and headed down 11th Street toward the Hill,  I glanced over and saw something I never dreamed I'd see: a man, on a unicycle. He wasn't a clown or anything, just a guy, with curly black hair and jeans. Riding a unicycle.

See why I love Lawrence?

After work I walked across the street - it was a lovely 65-degree walk...lovely, lovely...and went into "my" old building. I knew they'd moved the newsroom to another building, but I wasn't prepared for what seeing the empty newsroom would do to me. I teared up. I stood and looked at this now-emtpy room where I spent countless hours as a reporter, assignment editor, wire editor and associate editorial editor, and choked up. Things change, I know. But I kind of wish I hadn't made myself look.