I had totally forgotten this. Such fantastic opportunities for mockery. Second-favorite: the undergrads who wandered around in ridiculous back-to-the-80s Fashion Victim clothes. (These can be found here in Cold City, too.)
"In the hottest room in the library, two wilting undergraduates sit in Naugahyde chairs. One is holding a limp calla lily. The other is sitting by the window.
I am looking for a book. They keep talking.
'He said the world is justified by esthetics but it couldn't be! That would be too cruel.'
'Darling, we all have an inner strength and you just need to find your center....'
These are the deep metaphysical conversations that only 18-year-olds can manage. And the inner strength... could doubtless be found by moving to a cooler room.
P.S. I am not making this up."
Libraries are endless streams of 18yr old angst and wisdom. I sometimes bathe in the injustice of it all. It makes me feel miraculously mature and accomplished!
ReplyDeleteThat would definitely be a great ego boost. Just go to the study rooms and....
DeleteI'm sure I was intolerable then too, but fifteen years on it just looks ridiculous.