chocolate chip cookies
In my most sincere tone, I would like to commend the VT faculty for their preparation and handling of this re-introduction to classes. Only 7 days of courses remain from today to finals, which makes new material a treacherous step for a student body experiencing this level of grief. From my impressions of returning to class, these professors are ready to handle the most abrupt change of footing. Maybe with the exception of watching and listening to some students take this whole catastrophy lightly, a sign of life-long immaturity, perhaps, the overall handling and recovery has been extraordinary. I know I am being redundant, but: I am impressed.
An emergency biking situation yesterday as well as a miraculous cycling savior who helped me fix a flat… eventually led me to a trip this afternoon to East Coasters, the motherland of my bike. On the way, I had to cross a big intersection known for frequent pedestrian and cycling traffic. I was moving straight through the intersection, alongside several pedestrians, when a car making a left turn came speeding towards us on an unprotected green light. I was closest to it, being a barrier between the motor traffic and the pedestrians. A girl walking along beside me screamed. I hit my rear brake to swing the bike for a fast turn&go. The car slammed its brakes, stopping literally inches from the rear half of my frame. Over and done in a half second - I hadn’t even a chance to have raced away were I capable of pushing off that quickly.
The guy was smirking while talking on a cellphone. He hardly took a moment to catch a breath and say, “sorry, man”. It required unequaled forgiveness to not make my helmet a new addition to hit forehead.
Given Blacksburg’s historic biker-friendly transportation setup, this is my first witness and experience to anything contrary. I hope it was a fluke.
Walking across the drillfield today, a middle-aged lady gave me a bag of cookies and told me, “We’re glad you’re back,” not knowing I had never left, not at all to diminish her courteous intentions. I was so thankful for her gesture, looked at what awaited me - two delicious chocolate chip cookies - and headed to my place. Later, I saw that there were actually four cookies in there. And a few moments ago, I now see six. I simply must get the recipe for these replicating cookies. For all I know, this could be my first experience eating cloned food.
It’s good to be back in school.