An orientation of sorts

Friday we drove to Austin. She and I. We had an appointment at her university of choice. We met with the counselor, asked our questions, and got the information we were seeking. We walked the campus together talking about a future day when she'll be walking this hill or coming through the doors of that building, perhaps sitting in the grass in the shade from that tree. I was pleased to be with her, to watch her, to know her and be the one guiding her along this line of change to her future. I was pleased to witness her excitement.



She has a bit of magic to her, this one. She has a wide eye and a kind spirit. She has a laughter that does not edit itself. She knows exactly who she is, and she is herself no matter where she is or who she is with; in other words, she's not easily swayed. She is shy but emerging.

We spent the rest of our weekend discovering the area around her campus, the shops and restaurants and side street surprises. We met friends for breakfast and lunch. We discovered many vegetarian menus about town, which thrilled her to no end. We shopped. We watched the people waiting for the bats to come out from beneath Congress bridge. We walked, a lot. We discovered waterways and parks. We discovered Waterloo Records (if she had her way, she'd still be there). All weekend, she kept saying to me, everyone here is so nice. And she was right, everyone we met or chatted to was friendly and warm-spirited. Just like she is. I think she's going to be just fine in Austin - the city fits her. She'll stretch her wings beautifully.