'Place' is a funny idea... hard to define, hard to find, hard to separate from time and experience. It was in that spirit that Jenelle and I piled into the Vibe and drove to Ann Arbor for the weekend.
Fundamentally, this is a dumb idea. It's about 550 miles from Macungie to A2; farther when it's snowing. But Ann Arbor is the place that, at this moment, we identify with more than any other; in this town are the ideas, people, and -yes- places that are most like us. In no small way, this is what we love about life:
Heidi hosted. We crashed on an air mattress. In the morning, we went to Fleetwood. I had hippie hash, Jenelle had spinach and feta omelette. We went to Moosejaw. Three Chairs. Selo/Shevel. Acme. State & Liberty, South U, the new Ross exterior. I don't know whether we enjoy those places because of what they are or because of what they are to us - probably some of both.
Then hockey. At Yost, in the student section. We knew the words and were eager to cheer the goal count, even if in the end we were singing the alma mater after a tie with Northern. Afterwards, Leopolds and Heidelberg, where I ran into a few old classmates.
Sunday. Driving, with Zingermans in our stomach and a bag in the Vibe, we were sad to leave but happy to be headed home. Closure, or maybe just a great weekend?
Monday, February 04, 2008