A new adventure
Yesterday I ventured to the Law Library here in Oxford. I had never been there before because I always use the SSL. But there was a book that I needed for my thesis that was only at the law library. So I forced myself to go there yesterday morning (I have real trouble with going to libraries other than the SSL, I get really nervous). I showed my Bod card to get in, and then it took me a little while to find the book. But then I worked for a couple hours, reading and taking notes. Then I went outside and had some packs of crackers and a granola bar for lunch. I knew if I went back to the flat for lunch, I probably wouldn’t make it back to the library. So I went back in, and got through the chapters of the book that I had wanted to. And I think I’ve found the angle in which I can make anti-trust law fit into my thesis. I have to think about it a little more, but I’m pretty sure it’s there. Have you ever done that? You know something will work, but you can’t put it into words yet, so you just have to think about it before you can write it out? I think I do that a lot.
But anyway, I went to the SSL after that, which is right next door to the law library. I checked out my books for next week’s essay, and then went back to my flat. I had arranged with Dr. Taul to meet him at 6:30 to chat for a bit because he left this morning. We ended up going to Queen’s Lane Cafe for dinner, which was really good. We had some good conversation, and it was nice to catch up with him. Before he got to his flat to meet me (he was a little late), I talked to Dr. Campbell, who is a music prof from G-town here visiting. We’ve never really talked or anything. I just know him from G-town concerts. But he said to tell him about myself. So I gave the rundown: lived in G-town til I was 4, then moved to Richmond, and now we’re a little bit everywhere with two farms, one in Casey County and one in Garrard County. And my mom teaches in Marion County. And then he asked me if my dad mainly worked on the farm. And I said he passed away. In life, I’m prone to thinking that anything that is different about me is just normal until I realize that it’s not that way for everyone. Now I know everyone doesn’t have a single parent, and of those who do, many of them are from divorce. But I usually don’t think about the fact that people assume I have a father who works or something. I don’t know if that makes sense, but I just realized last night that I never specify anything about my dad unless someone asks. Otherwise I just talk about my mom in response to parent questions, and don’t even think about the fact that people might wonder what my dad does.
Not exactly the same as thinking that no one can bend their thumb without their index finger bending also, which is what my right hand does. For those of you who know about this oddity, I just always assumed it was something weird with how people’s hands work until Kyle told me that I was the only one who had that trait. But there are a lot of strange things about me I guess, and I think it’s best if I just assume that I’m like everyone else rather than try to figure out why I’m different. So I guess I’ll just keep thinking like that. I’m guessing that not everyone has anxieties about going into a new library, but I have to go to the Bod to get a book as well, and I told Celia she would have to go with me. I’m fine coming to a different country to study, which many people tell me is very brave. It’s just going into the libraries by myself for the first time that takes the most courage for me. I know, I am weird.