One young woman curled into an Adirondack chair, reading and enjoying the sunlight, hopped up and asked to pet Gracie. "Of course," I said. And then she told me about her dog.
"I remember how hard it was to leave my cat at home when I went to college. What year are you?
"First."
"It got a bit easier this semester, don't you think?"
"Yes," she said.
Gracie, meanwhile, was basking in the student's affection.
She told me she would major in psychology with a second emphasis in political science. "I love it here," she added. "I just love learning new things."
With that, we parted.
A bit later, I stopped to photograph this stencil on the sign. A student turned the corner, looked where I was looking, and said, "What's that?"
"I was hoping you might know!" I answered.
"No clue. But it looks like an insect, doesn't it?"
"Yep. I just love random things like this."
"Me, too," she said. "See ya!"
Conversations with strangers each morning, another reason why I enjoy walking with Gracie.
