Wednesday, November 07, 2007

miss UW? you should.

My days have been variously touched on (caressed? punched at? both?) by this university since 1979. Initially I came as a lecturer. And as a spouse of a prof. I continued as a law student. And as a mother of an occasional class-taker. I came back as a law faculty member.

On Wisconsin, on Wisconsin!

For nearly thirty years I’ve made my way to campus, back and forth, back and forth, by bus, by car, on foot, motorcycle or bike, back and forth.

UW, blending into Madison. One, impossible to imagine without the other. As if there wasn't a boundary between the two.

Yes, sure, I’m feeling nostalgic with the onset of a Madison late fall/early winter. (And happy to be home and warm after a blustery ride back.)

Let me take Ocean with me on that 23 minute ride, forgetting about the usual lake path. Working my way from the hallways of school life to the gardens on Observatory, past a practicing band, finishing in the newly opened café (just today! Because I have a nose that's viciously long for new and sparkly cafés) within a stone’s throw of my condo.

First, the Law School. Fall colors, pouring into the library:


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Onwards. Past Centennial gardens. Quiet. Monochromatic. But not dull.


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Then, past a practice session of the marching band. Men, women, almost oblivious to the biting cold. Almost.


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Finally, a quick pause at a new bakery and coffee shop ("Gallup"). Warm colors. Great coffee. Good ending to a cold ride.


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7 comments:

  1. Good gracious, how can anyone work in that library with that stupendous view? I'd have to be like the fellow in the foreground and turn my back to it.

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  2. I love UW Madison, especially in the fall. My favorite spots were always the Terrace, Bascom Hill and looking down Observatory Drive. About the only thing I liked about law school (besides Ocean!) was the view from the library. Thanks for bringing back some great memories!

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  3. awesome library scene - and of course I love the coffee place too..

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  4. How many people, do you suppose, have been to Janesville (several times) but never to Madison? Very few, I'd guess, but I'd be among them. You make it seem like paradise on earth!

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  5. Sometimes I bike home along that same path, and I really feel lucky to be in Madison.

    A few weeks ago, across from the field where the Band practices, I had to slow down to let a pair of sandhill cranes cross the path.

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  6. . . and once again you've inspired me to take my own photos today of where I went . .

    I should do that more often - and I shall so try.

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  7. *sigh* Made it down to Mineral Point a few weeks back, but didn't get to Madison on that trip. Maybe in December. I LOVE this blog. Thank you for the fabulous photos. My daughter has so many friends in school down there so I'm always scouring your photos hoping for a glimpse...

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