Ahhh….. DC!
As a recovering hermit, I have to say I am shocked that I found my roots stretching out in such a busy city. I always hated crowds, they made me feel like I was suffocating, but now…. interesting. I don’t care for them still, but people in close proximity don’t make me cringe like they used to.
It is an odd sort of peace I feel in this town that I left ten years ago. Sometimes you go a long way out of the way to find your way back correctly.
Gallaudet University is here, which is home in itself. Nowhere do I feel as safe as I do on campus. But it is not just the institution that makes DC the place for me, even the Metro (DC subway system) gives me a feeling of connectedness. I enter a sort of meditative quiet and reflective state of mind when riding the lines.
I have lived on both American coasts (east and west) and spent some time in the south. To their credit, California and Arizona have their charm, but it is here that I belong.
The bustling of the city used to drain me, now it charges me. The flurry of hands on campus at Gallaudet brings me joy. Old playgrounds such as Union Station and Dupont Circle make me sigh in relief. I feel younger and more vibrant than I did when I WAS younger and more vibrant.
I have found my place.
Now, if only I can find a job!
