My first class of the day is canceled, so I am left sitting in front of the Student Center watching the kids from the campus day care playing in the “quad”. It makes me smile and wish Amaya was over there so I could go play with her and Erich. I think that this break in my normally long day is giving me a chance to pause and reflect on what is important.

Yes, I’m getting an education about something I love, but watching those kids run back and forth without a care in the world is making me wonder if I’m not missing out by being here instead of rolling around in the grass with my own kids right now.

The fountains are gurgling, the grass is somewhat green thanks to the rain in the past few days, and occasionally a loud car goes by on the interstate. I keep glancing at the clock tower. Is that a sign that I’m too conscious of time? Perhaps I just need to relax a little and quit worrying so much.

Now some guy has pulled up in the bus parking space with his loud diesel truck. So much for peaceful silence and listening to the happy shrieks from the day care kids.

Bright blue skies, happy-fluffy clouds, and now a few other students working on assignments at the other tables here in front of the Student Center with me. Some people are trickling in and out of the parking lot and the buildings.

Diesel Guy is now leaving. Maybe the magic of the silence will return once he leaves. The kids are now gathered around in a circle. It must be story time.

The bright white tents are still up from Fun Fest yesterday. This place was quite different then… People were milling around to the different tents eating and checking out the various campus clubs and what they had to offer. Loud music was pumping through speakers. Drawn-on tattoos were being given out. Now, that has all given way to the norm – peaceful skies, gurgling fountains, kids playing and shrieking, birds chirping, and a general sense of calm.