Revisited

Thirty years ago I qualified for a Teachers College alumnus ID, good for admission to the Columbia libraries and some other services as well. I have one now. Things are largely unchanged, both at TC and Butler, the former a bit seedier, cafeteria still unairconditioned, unlike the new Starbucks concession upstairs. I had been told the Philosophy Library was still intact, but it isn't. The interior balconies were still in place, but with a different range of books, and the portraits are gone. I wandered about to get a little used to the place, caught a 104 back down to 72nd Street.

I will not say it is where I lost my innocence. Or where I held on to it at what ghastly cost.