Nomad Life - Day 165

Last day in South Bend - I'll admit that I'm going to miss this place when I leave...  I was awake at 0530 (before alarm ) and started teleworking.  When I looked out the window, I immediately noticed the nearly six inches of snow that covered my car - Winter has found me!  Another thing I noticed, though, was that the sun had came out for me so I could have another great day.  I took a break for breakfast in the Lobby of the Baymont (South Bend) at 0730 and then went back to work (more meetings) in my room.  At 1100, I took another break to clean up my car and later made "lunch" (snacks) in my room.  Otherwise, I worked without interruption until 1500.  Once my computer was off, I left the hotel and started looking for a place to ski.  By then, though, the temps had risen into the mid 30s and made for "mushy" conditions.  Deciding not to waste time trying to force fun in the snow, I drove around town in search of old residences I'd had when I lived in the area back in the last 1980s and early 1990s.  First, I drove to Philippa Street, in the southwestern part of South Bend, and located the house where I lived during my Senior year.  It looked a bit different (new siding, fence, etc.) but I could see the kernel of familiarity.  It was difficult to navigate because there was lots of snow on the side streets.  Throughout this phase of my explorations, I had flashes of Deja Vu but couldn't be exactly sure about the impetus.  After all, 35 years is a long time...  Next, I drove to Mishawaka and located the apartment complex (Hickory Village) where I'd lived during my Junior year.  Somehow, I felt my way through the maze of streets in the expansive complex until I (believe I) found the exact apartment unit.  As before, there was Deja Vu around most corners.  Nearby, I found a familiar post office, church and school.  Driving west from there, I found they had redesigned the IN-23 crossing.  From this area, I explored more of Mishawaka and searched for some other old haunts - in the end, though, there was lots of driving but I never found exactly what I was looking for.  Meanwhile, it was overcast outside and the snow drifts made for very wet roads.  At 1445, I returned to the Dorr Road Parking Lot and, after I found a clear parking spot, spent the next 90 minutes walking around on the Notre Dame Campus.  Highlights included: Rockne Center, new dorms on South Quad, the KofC building, Cushing, O'Shaughnessy (inside, I met a nice lady named Mrs. Walton), classrooms, Hesburgh Library, Siegfried Hall, St. Olaf's Ice Chapel on North Quad, Main Building.  What a trip down memory lane!  I wanted to go inside Sacred Heart but they were having Mass.  Instead, I visited the Log Chapel and Old College - there was even time for some birding.  Before departing. I looked around a bit more on the South Quad and even walked around the south side of the South Dining Hall where I found lots of new dorms and construction.  At that point, it started to get very cold and windy.  Surprising, though, I passed lots of kids without warm clothes - the worst offenders of common sense were some girls in thin dresses that I saw that seemed to be taking wedding photos near the Main Building.  Ah, but I was once one of these fools...  Along the way, I also overheard lots of young people talking about things that were important to them (sports, relationships, etc.) and it reminded me again about how much I used to be like them.  I briefly considered getting food on campus but decided against it.  Instead, I headed back to my car at 1815 and drove back to the hotel.  Later, I made dinner in my room and, because I felt tired and lazy, didn't take care of important items that were pending in my inbox.  Instead, I watched movies until 2230 and then went to bed.  It was a great week to be on the Notre Dame Campus - very glad I chose to stop here during my Nomad Life Journey!