Sometimes it takes me a while to accept the inevitable. It’s the hazards of traveling on my own without a mom.
Vanderbilt is a well-laid maze of ivy halls nestled in downtown Nashville. One of the most interesting halls I found was called Furman Hall, housing languages, philosophy, and other things.
Interesting fact about me: stairways are a recurring theme in my dreams. I’ll be in a building I know well when suddenly, the building’s floor plan will change and there will be a staircase leading who-knows-where. Buildings like Furman Hall are a dream come true. The hall doesn’t look large from the outside but that staircase goes up, and up, and up…
And finally I reached the very top floor. There were no more stairs and stained glass obscured the view. I was ready to go back down, but through a five-inch crack in a doorway I thought I saw more stairs. Not exactly eager to interrupt someone’s lecture or meeting, I tiptoed up to the door and peeked through. Not a sound could be heard… and yes, those were more stairs leading up. As I pushed the door open silently (checking the hallway behind me) my eyes followed the stairs up to a door.
An old wooden door. Locked.
But one of the door’s panels was broken, and it was easy to reach through and unlock it. I saw only pitch black through the door’s broken panel. Every time I touched the door handle the echoes boomed against… what? I could not tell, but the sound made me cringe as I imagined students all over the building hearing the noise and campus police and what if… But the curiosity was too much. I turned on my phone’s flashlight (trusty iPhone to the rescue), turned the handle, and opened the mysterious Door at the Top of the Stairs.
What I found there, I’ll keep a secret.
Exiting the building, I really started feeling my leg ache. Classes had let out and cheerful students were everywhere. I did not fit in: dressed all in black, with a long black coat, limping like a peg-leg sailor. I considered going home, but there were more ivy… er, magnolia… covered halls.
The clock tower at Vanderbilt is attached to Kirkland Hall, an edifice that secretes power and dignity.
I saw this official-looking boardroom and took a sassy selfie in the huge gold mirror.
The view from Kirkland Hall’s front steps is beautiful, isn’t it?
It was a wonderful visit to Vanderbilt University! All of the free events happening on campus, I really should make a trip back to the school soon.
I gave the parking meter a $20 bill, and it returned 18 gold Sacajawea dollars. Holding a pile of gold coins makes me feel suddenly wealthy, pirate-like. Hey, I have gold like a pirate, I limp like a pirate… I decided to consider it my latest greatest career plan, and wave a merry farewell to Vanderbilt Graduate Admissions as I hopped back on Interstate 65 to Brentwood.
~ The Dauntless Princess ~
