Hope
Walking through the Caltech campus has always been one of our favorite rituals to start the day. Depending on our pace—now noticeably slower with the arrival of a second dog, but that’s a story for another time—we are back home in about 45 minutes. Until recently, we did not pass many people, a few runners, a few dog walkers, and plenty of construction workers arriving at the worksite on Wilson Avenue. Saturdays and Sundays were not much different, though when we were out a bit later, we might catch a glimpse or two of sleepy-eyed Caltech students—it was never clear whether they were coming from or going to their labs.
Recently, however, and particularly on the weekends, the campus has been awash with kids rocketing around on their scooters. They race each other, sometimes their parents who are straining not to spill their coffee, or imaginary competitors, all of whom they routinely vanquish. It is pure joy. Without a care in the world—or it seems so—they have their parents’ undivided attention and a chance to rule one of the most beautiful campuses in the world. Scenes like this give me hope and the kind of nourishment I relish right now.
Over the last five weeks, I have come to realize how much I miss the little things that I took for granted in my job. The ambient noise—a mashup of giggles and shouts on the north campus morphing into more mature laughter and commentary as I head south—have gone silent. The absence of the “ya got a minute?”s that I sometimes bemoaned in the past, have meant my days are more predictable and frankly not as interesting. I have also learned that the slower pace and the opportunity to focus on what truly matters is essential—creativity and reflection flourish with time. When we come together again, I hope we remember what we learned about ourselves and each other while we were away.
Last weekend during one of our walks, we passed a few graduate students maneuvering like PacMan characters around a gaggle of scooters. As I watched these burgeoning scientists with their heads in the clouds, I imagined they were vanquishing competitors of a different sort. Kindred spirits full of wonder and hope.
JWB
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