there are places i remember

i went to rutgers this past weekend
one of my favorite teachers is retiring and it was the last faculty cocert she would be presenting in.
the dance she made also happened to be dedicated to her mother who passed away this year.
it was incredibly touching

in fact, the whole experience was.

not just watching the dance, or getting to see my teacher from years ago

but also the experience of going back to a part of my life that i had hated and loved so much

having seen familiar faces, and unfamiliar talent and creativity (the dance program has developed into a wonderful one, with very sophisticated dance happening).

it made me a little nostalgic
a little.

before arriving i began to think about the department administrator. she was not a teacher, but manager of all things administrative in the dance department. i had a fondness for her.
i wasn't quite sure what made me think of her before entering the theater. but i guess i wondered whether or not she remembered me and assumed that she didn't.

upon walking into the theater, she was the first person i saw.
she imediately shouted my name and gave me a warm hug.

i felt grateful for having gone, not only to see my teacher and her dance, and the community i had once been a part of, but also grateful to be reminded that through people, we remain conncetd to the world and ultimately to ourselves.