Gainesville Florida

Reflections

I graduated from the University of Florida in 1982 and hadn’t been back to Gainesville until now, 43 years later. I had memories in my mind of my years here. Amazingly, much of what I remembered is still the same. The campus has added a few buildings over the years but it was pretty well built out back then. Large brick edifices that have stood the test of time and will probably stand for at least another 40 years and more. I’m surprised that I still remembered the names of most of them too. My freshman dormitory, and many of the classroom buildings, especially the ones I majored and minored in. The student union where I loved to study has had some upgrades but I found a place I used to study in there. A little lounge that was private and quiet. And frat row. Yes, I was a frat rat. But only for one year. It wasn’t me. The last 4 years, I lived off campus, some times just me and a girlfriend in a one bedroom apartment.

As we roamed around town, again many things were still the same. But a lot had changed too. I could still navigate myself around the main arterials of Gainesville as if I’d just left. It’s amazing how you can access those maps in your head many years later. Even without Google.

As I moved about my old college town, so many thoughts came to me. Reflections. Not the visible kind but the memory kind. Reflections on how my life unfolded from that time. It’s our “formative years”, so it’s said. The first time we leave the nest and go out in the world on our own. For me, as probably most of us who left home to go to college, it was scary, exciting, productive, unproductive and much more. We did some good stuff. Getting a college degree. Learning to live on our own. Meeting new people from other places. We also did some not so good stuff. But that’s part of the learning process. Learning to be an adult, on your own. It’s always bumpy. Bumpier for some then others. I’m not sure which category I fall into but it was a little rough the first two years. But fortunately I cleaned up my act and graduated. The degree I got, a BS in Psychology never led to a career. But it’s always helpful to learn a little about our psyche, no matter what path we choose for our work.

“All roads lead to where I am” said Don McLean from the song Crossroads on the album of the same name. BTW, American Pie is from that album too. So, as I reflect back on those years and think about all that I did, all the choices I made, all the mistakes and misfortunes, I feel at peace. I DID IT! I went to college and survived and thrived. I became me. The me who now roams the country with Joan and Cosmo, happy and contented, most of the time. And still learning life’s lessons, as well as a lot of geography. Gainesville gave me that. Without that time in my life, I probably wouldn’t have become the adventurous vagabond I am today. Thanks Gainesville. Thanks for the memories. It was so nice seeing you again.

The student union

My little study lounge in the student union. I found it!!!

I spent a lot of money on books here. A few I still have, like Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World.

I had to come here in my second year to meet with an advisor because I almost flunked out and had to request one more semester. I got rid of my marijuana stash, buckled down and made the deans list the next semester and saved my college career.

I did love my studies here. Many great classes like reading the great authors of the 20th century.

My first off campus apartment (upstairs). Still looks great after all this time. I can conjure up a memory of my first dog Muffin sitting on the steps watching me wash my car. My first one, a Chevy Monte Carlo.

My second apartment. Not looking so good. In fact, almost falling down.

I worked at this Dominos. The owners, two brothers, Chris and Pat Strong offered me this franchise as they wanted to opens several more. I had bigger plans. Ahhhhh….what might have been.

This one really took me back. Sonny’s Fat Boy BBQ started in Gainesville in 1968 and is now a franchise up and down the east coast. It was my favorite place to “munch out”. Walking in, it was like I was right back to 1978. It was spooky/scary and amazing, right down to the smells.

Live Oak trees draped with Spanish moss. A north Florida staple. Magnificent.