A New Year

My life has always revolved on an Academic Calendar,

and hence, here we are, at the New Year.

This year finds me a real grown up, 

with a multi-year contract, and a big fancy title:

​

Lauren Kooistra, Ph.D.

Associate Director & Research Associate 

Institute for the Arts and Humanities

The Pennsylvania State University

I even have a grown-up parking pass now,

indication that I have, indeed, arrived.

You might think that a new year might find me tucked safely back in my Penn State cottage, after a summer of working from home, but alas.

Renovations never take the time we think they might,

especially when the building is old,

and termites have been--apparently--rampant.

And so, this new year finds me relegated out 

to temporary space on the edges of campus,

in what I'm not even sure we can call "campus".

We moved in this week,

into what was the old Child Study Center--
which means that this giant mirror 

across from my desk is actually a two-way mirror,
used way back in the day to covertly study the behaviors of children

from a weird hidden chamber
tucked into the middle of a corridor of rooms.

It's kind of creepy, but kind of fitting,

all the same.

So today is my first day without getting-settled drama.

On my way over I thought,

"gosh, I'd like some coffee,

but on this end of town there isn't a convenient place."

And then, I remembered:

There's a Dunkin' in the gas station I go right past! 

And then I found:

A Dunkin' gift card goldmine sitting in my wallet,

from many years ago.

And so, treasures given long ago bear their fruit today.

Good news to remember,

as I settle in to This New Year.