October 5, 2003 ~ Emotional Openness and Other Random Thoughts
Sunday.
Today found Morgan and me at the old farmhouse again. It's homecoming weekend, with many Warren Wilson alumni in town. Sloan invited a bunch of people over for a huge Sunday lunch prepared just as his grandmother used to do, and, of course, ended up with a whole crowd of Wilsonites descending on their house. Which was most certainly a good thing.
There's something about Warren Wilson students. Even though many of these people were complete strangers, I felt completely comfortable around them, because of the way that they carry themselves, because of the way that they interact. With all of them, there was a direct emotional honesty, which, frankly, is something that I rarely find in people, but which is abundant at Warren Wilson, for some reason.
You know what I mean. Those evasive emotional walls that people tend to build up--they aren't generally there with Wilson alumni. The walls that speak of a reserved dishonestly, a reluctance to be one's true self in public. The psychological games that are often present in a large group of semi-acquaintances or partial strangers weren't there today. With these people, they'll tell you straight out if and why they are angry, or why they are disappointed. They are also quick to express pleasure or amusement, as well. It's a straightforwardness that I often find lacking with most people, and a trait that I value greatly.
(Interestingly, it's a trait that is present in most of the people at the Co-Op as well. Which makes sense. The Co-Op is an extremely community-oriented place, very active in local issues. The same is true at the college.)
We all gathered around the long table on the porch, slightly chilly there in the shade. Others pulled up chairs along the sides, and some just sat on the railing. Dogs pushed their way under the table, begging for handouts. We ate and laughed and talked and ate and teased and ate some more. It was a wonderful meal; we lingered afterward, not wanting to leave, even though we had somewhere to be.
And where I had to be was the Pisgah Ranger Station before it closed at five. I needed to pick up a map and have a little chat with one of the Rangers about suggestions on good places for me to backpack in that forest come next week. I also wanted to know about campfire regulations, hunting seasons and boundaries, and any other advice they may have for me.
I now have a most excellent map, and the ranger was very helpful. He showed me some great trails in a bear refuge where deer hunting season won't open for over a month. He said the only thing that people will be allowed to shoot when I'll be in there is squirrels, but I'll wear some hunter orange anyway, just to be safe. And bring lots of rope to hang my food. Heh.
And on a final note, some more thoughts that have been bugging me about the dentist visit last Thursday.
A note to dentists, hygienists, and other health care professionals: Using absolutely atrocious grammar while working on your patient, who happens to be an English major, does not inspire in her a great deal of confidence in your medical expertise.
Take, for example, the following conversation when applying sealants to my teeth:
"It don't wanna stick."
"It ain't setting?"
"No, it don't."
"Ah, you're right. It don't stick there at all."
Please consider taking a grammar course as part of your grad school electives. Heavens.
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