Five Senses of the Tribble Courtyard
I am in between meetings on a cool but sunny day. Found a perch outside the ZSR near the Benson-Tribble courtyard. Here’s what my five senses are revealing:
I hear…
– an airplane flying overhead.
– a snippet of a guy-to-girl conversation. The guy is retelling a story about someone who was referring to “my boy, Slick!”
– a visiting dad and his son ask me where Manchester Quad is. I ask if they are looking for a particular building, and they say no, they are just trying to get their bearings. Dad looks like he likes this place.
– a second airplane overhead, followed by the toot of a train in the distance. (There are train tracks across University by North Point Blvd).
– laughter of people as they walk by. The occasional yelled greeting from across the courtyard.
– clop, clop, clop of high heeled boots.
– a strange loud flapping fabric sound. When I turn around to investigate, I see it is the umbrella from an umbrella table.
– jingling of keys as they hang off a girl’s ID holder.
– the sound of a leaf blower. Normally that seems to be happening at the early part of the day; I am surprised to hear it now.
I see…
– some students in shorts, others in sweats and otherwise long-sleeved outfits. Some of the girls are still sporting equestrian boots.
– several students with to-go bags from the Benson Center food court. They look like they are headed back to their residence hall.
– lots of students are either using their smartphone to surf/text as they walk. No one trips or bumps in to each other.
– tiny pink buds on the trees in Tribble courtyard. Give them a few more days and they will be in full bloom.
– clear blue sky. Not a cloud anywhere.
– lawn chairs set up in front of Greene Hall. No one is in them, they are just sitting there.
– three different cafe tables are occupied, but just with one student apiece. They all have their laptops out.
– the Student Union golf cart parked and charging in its space on the sidewalk.
– a girl walk by in a WAKE sweatshirt. I want to go up and thank her for wearing our school’s shirt and not some other school’s (a pet peeve of mine), but I refrain.
– two girls have passed by carrying boxes from the post office – they look like care packages. Good job, Deac parents, for sending some goodies to your students!
I smell…
– a skinny vanilla latte from Starbucks.
– cold wind. It isn’t super windy, but when it is there is a distinct cool smell.
– the first hint of flowering trees blooming. It smells like spring.
I feel…
– the cool surface of the green cafe table. It’s sitting in the shade and the tabletop has not had a chance to warm from the sun.
– cold. If you are not in the sun and the wind picks up, it’s too cool for no coat but too warm to wear the coat.
I taste…
– skinny vanilla latte from Starbucks 🙂