Some Things Never Change

Last weekend LBeau and I traveled to Fayetteville for his annual meeting of the Arkansas Academy of Civil Engineering.  While he was closed up with a bunch of other engineers on a gorgeous Saturday morning, I took the time to visit some of my favorite places.  While Fayetteville has changed a lot since I was in school there in the '60's, my morning trek around town was proof that some things never change.

My first stop was 430 Assembly Drive where we lived with our oldest son Hunter when LBeau was in grad school in the mid '70's.  We rented this stone house on the west side of Mount Sequoyah and lived there for a little over two years.

From there I continued to the top of Mount Sequoyah where this cross overlooks the city.  I'm not sure when it was erected, but it has stood in that spot since before my student days.

The Farmers' Market on the square was my next stop.  Begun in the 1970's as a way for local farmers to market their produce, the Farmers' Market has expanded to included craftsmen and musicians as well.

On this Saturday, the square was crowded with hundreds of folks walking their dogs, buying produce and flowers, visiting with friends and neighbors while listening to a variety of music.  With an election coming up next month, there was no shortage of candidates, and I got to visit with a friend whose husband is running for judge.

I continued on to the campus, first walking past the Kappa house where I lived for three years.  This house was brand new the year I pledged, and from the outside it looks pretty much as it did in 1965.

Senior Walk is also proof that some things never change.  Starting at the front door of Old Main, Senior Walk winds for more than five miles through the campus and contains the names of every graduate since the founding of the University.  For years there have been rumors that the University was running out of places for Senior Walk and it would be discontinued.  Those rumors have proven to be false.

When I was a student, each time a new class graduated workers would pour fresh concrete and hand stamp each graduate's name in the walk.  In 1986, the UofA Physical Plant invented the Sand Hog, which etches the name of each graduate in existing sidewalks.

During my walk around campus, I located my name in the Class of 1968, along with the names of a couple of friends, one of whom reads this blog from time to time.  I also found LBeau's name as well as my sons' names.

Every time I visit campus, I can't resist taking pictures of Old Main, which to most present and former students is the symbol of the University of Arkansas.  It too looks pretty much as it did during my student days except for the addition of a working clock on the south tower where blank faces once were.  Although the chimes in Old Main have rung every fifteen minutes for as long as I can remember, the clock was not added until 2005.

Fayetteville has always been one of my favorite places on earth, so I am linking up with Laurie on Bargain Hunting and Chatting with Laurie.  It's always fun to read about everyone's Favorite Things.  Be sure to stop by and tell Laurie hello.