Yesterday, our mentor session received a blessing in disguise when, to our surprise, we found out our session had been cancelled. We all stood around for a few moments, wondering if we should all just head home and come back for main session or if we could put this free time to better use. Luckily, the sun was shining and the sky was blue. We all put on our imagination caps and put ourselves in the shoes of the youth of 1930s Americans. There we were, in the park blocks, drifting with no direction home, when we came upon a shady paradise complete with twisty slides and monkey bars. We let our inner children free and returned to a simpler time. We didn't need phones, video games, TV, or facebook. All we had was each other's company and that was just fine with us. Already we could feel the 1930s making its way into our modern world. Next, with nothing but time on our side, we wandered down to Pioneer Square, where we were acquainted with some colorful characters. We watched a well-dressed poet spout free verse while being accompanied by a rather grungy looking gentleman strumming a ukulele. One of their friends even asked to borrow my pen, which he failed to return after putting it in his mouth. C'est la vie, as they say. As we traveled back towards campus, back to 2011, we reflected on how lucky we are to be young and able. We may not have hopped on trains and ran away from home, but we at least got a taste of adventure all thanks to our 1930s counterparts. Get well soon, Cody!Thursday, May 19, 2011
Youth in America!
Yesterday, our mentor session received a blessing in disguise when, to our surprise, we found out our session had been cancelled. We all stood around for a few moments, wondering if we should all just head home and come back for main session or if we could put this free time to better use. Luckily, the sun was shining and the sky was blue. We all put on our imagination caps and put ourselves in the shoes of the youth of 1930s Americans. There we were, in the park blocks, drifting with no direction home, when we came upon a shady paradise complete with twisty slides and monkey bars. We let our inner children free and returned to a simpler time. We didn't need phones, video games, TV, or facebook. All we had was each other's company and that was just fine with us. Already we could feel the 1930s making its way into our modern world. Next, with nothing but time on our side, we wandered down to Pioneer Square, where we were acquainted with some colorful characters. We watched a well-dressed poet spout free verse while being accompanied by a rather grungy looking gentleman strumming a ukulele. One of their friends even asked to borrow my pen, which he failed to return after putting it in his mouth. C'est la vie, as they say. As we traveled back towards campus, back to 2011, we reflected on how lucky we are to be young and able. We may not have hopped on trains and ran away from home, but we at least got a taste of adventure all thanks to our 1930s counterparts. Get well soon, Cody!
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Great post, Erin! I am digging your analogy. Wandering the streets of Portland, nearly aimlessly, yet with the intent of occupying our time seemed to parallel the dire circumstances of farming families migrating to the west in search of employment and the promise of a better life during the Great Depression. They seemed to be driven by a mangled, dusty dream of hope in their quest. That kind of journey requires a certain all-or-nothing mental drive and I think we channeled that mentality during our adventure in the sun.
ReplyDeleteThis was a great post! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHaha, this is awesome. At first glance I was confused because the photo was of you guys but the mysterious fog soon cleared.
ReplyDeleteInspirational, hah.