Ringing From Lands Of Long Ago

photos by charls

during my freshman year in college, i had this professor who was unlike any other. she was brilliant, yes, but seemed rather out-of-sorts for the most part: clothes kind of loopy, hair disheveled, desk in eternal disarray. but what made her particularly memorable for me was the fact that she did not seem to want to teach the subject (basic english) in which i was enlisted that semester. instead, she would go on and on about her apparent obsession with our national hero.

naturally i found it odd, but i saw it through to the very end and eventually we were given the most bizarre final exam. it involved some type of historical reenactment for the whole class — costumes and characters and dialogues and all. the good thing i got out of it though (besides the ridiculously high grade) was a lovely little walk we took to the UP CARILLON, a small corner of the university i hadn’t yet visited. at the time, the tower was coming apart at the seams and i doubted whether the bells even worked. i did however still see its beauty and thought of a time when the carillon stood in all its majesty; commanding a standstill with the chime of its bells. i would have loved to be there.

nine years later and things could not be more different. the carillon is now a true sight to behold, thanks to its restoration initiated by the university’s alumni. i get a sense of peace and quiet just walking along the paved paths around it and staring up at the tower, eyes squinting at the sun and thinking of all the great things i miss about my school. but mostly i think of my old professor; what kind of things she’s teaching now and whether she also looks up this tower in wonderment.

see right through you blouse – le caprice
ocean dive blazer – le caprice
jeans – zara
wedges – primadonna
belt – romwe
clutch – thrifted