I hope that if/when things return to
normal that Marquette regains one of the things that make it one of
the greatest places on the planet.
Because of what I do my lifestyle
hasn't changed very much, which means that I'm still walking here and
there pretty much as much as usual. And one of the things I've
noticed while out walking is the loss of a cherished Marquette
tradition--
The smile and the greeting of “hello”
as you walk past someone on the sidewalk.
That's all but disappeared these days
as people try to socially distance themselves or are buried under a
protective mask. Sometimes you make eye contact; sometimes, you're
just trying to make sure you don't come too close to the other
person. But as someone who a). walks everywhere, and 2). always says
“hi” to people, I can vouch for the fact that that habit has all
but disappeared.
I can't say I'm surprised; after all,
everyone's just trying to stay safe, and those people who are
actually out on the streets are probably a little more nervous than
those staying home. I know I am a little bit. But it's sad that
we've lost that ability to greet people, especially because I've
spoken with visitors over the years who've gone out of their way to
comment on how friendly a place Marquette is because we actually DO
say “hey” or “good morning” to strangers. It's part of what
makes this a special place.
And I would certainly be bummed if we
lost that quality.
Like I said, I'm hopeful that that
quality will be back if and when we ever return to normal. After
all, it's one of the things that makes Marquette Marquette, and with
everything else we've had ripped asunder that past month, I'd like to
think that we deserve to get at least that back.
Stay safe, everyone, and have a great
weekend!
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