This was move-in week at most Ohio Universities, Ohio State included.
Our daughter Mary moved in early on Monday. We’ve been in traffic on route 315. The cones leading to campus. Felt the urge to get out of everyone’s way just to find a bit of space to breathe.
That’s what I thought I’d feel on Monday. The practical relief of not being on other people’s timeline, not being bookended by their bins and boxes. Not feeling obligated to their urgency.
What surprised me was what we did with that extra space. We took a few pictures, talked about where things would go in the room. “Is this one bigger than last year?” It was nothing dramatic. I’m not trying to say we savored the time or tried to hold onto it, but we walked to another building and even took a couple of pictures (Mary wouldn’t sign the release for me to share.)
It’s a small thing, but we had a minute to say goodbye at the cars before we drove off. She to the parking deck, us to the highway.
Take away the crowds and you don’t automatically get meaning. But, you do get space. What you do with that space is still up to you.
Where would a little more space change what you notice?