RyanHarne.com

I’ve spent over eight months in Lynchburg. Understandably, I did 18 years once, but the collegiate exile is usually the final curtain. Some return, the homegrown type, those who appreciate this particular cultural atmosphere; but, the great majority pack their proverbial bags (and I suppose their literal bags as well) and head out. Or “ert” as I’ve heard the term used around here.

So what is it like the second time around for someone who is clearly not holding on to anything in this area (apart from family and a few friends)? Briefly, it is equivalent to someone turning off your ferris wheel leaving you stuck, perched less than halfway off the ground. This is my perspective, and some who hold L-burg dear would disagree, perhaps violently; but I’ve been put on hold, so to speak, and have been listening to the bustling carnival all around me without any hope of my own reveling.

I go back to VT in one week. One. Week. And, according to my tentative schedule following this fall semester, I may never be back in L-burg again for any longer than the handful of weeks of winter break. If all goes well, my summers from here on will not be spent locally, but rather forming new networks with people in other areas (maybe even the Chicago area… you know, maybe). This leaves me hopeful and not dreading the departure. My siblings have encouraged me to spread wings, they too admit the confining environment of Lynchburg, each in their own ways.

Is this bittersweet for me? Only slightly. The second time makes me almost indifferent. Almost.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 9th, 2005 at 5:47 pm and is filed under . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.