same place, new eyes

On this visit, my eye was attuned to the outdoor spaces at Oberlin and particularly some striking forms of trees and other plants:

The vines on Hall auditorium:


River birch in front of the gym:


A row of olive trees beside the track:


The new jazz building has a dramatic exterior stair and rooftop garden with a contemporary design sensibility. I felt that this was somehow Oberlin's version of Manhattan's High Line park-- yes, a stretch!-- but the combination of wood and metal reminded me of that sleek but somewhat industrial style. I guess the real test of the design is how it works as a performance and practice space, and I didn't go inside.

quintessential Oberlin

No visit to Oberlin would be complete without a return to Mudd library to commune with the primary-colored furniture, the womb chairs, and Falling Man. I also found a flyer reminding members of the class of 2010 that now is the time to declare their secret love for a classmate!





This one is for Amy-- apparently the albino squirrel of Tappan Square has become quite a celebrity, also featured on student-designed Oberlin t-shirts.

finally!

After much anticipation, I was thrilled to finally meet Luca! Of course he is even more adorable in person-- handsome, happy, peaceful, wise. I miss holding him in my lap, as he gripped with both hands onto my fingers, and I could smell his hair. Luca!


At lunch at the conservatory (what a handsome family!)


Camille hard at work planting a vegetable garden:


Sitting in the back yard with Luca:


At dinner with Thalia, Leo, and Oliver, we all wanted a turn with Luca:


Camille loves to try to make Luca laugh, and she'll do whatever it takes: tickling, dancing, laughing, calling his name:

sky-watching

Eleanor hosted Chloe, Adam, and me at her family's place in Snowshoe, West Virginia a few weeks ago. When we arrived, it was warm and sunny for about ten minutes. Then the clouds began to roll in, and soon we were enveloped in rain and fog. The next day the fog persisted, and visibility was extremely low (time for lots of reading, movies, good food, and even a fire!). In the morning, the clouds parted again, and it was an entirely different place...