August 2011 Archives

I became enamored of Gothic my very first summer in 1988. After I finished classes I quickly worked out a way to delay my departure. I’d grab old magazines from the Gothic exchange and get paid to read them in the general store, talking with the occasional tourist that stopped by. But I quickly learned that late August is the time when ghosts walk the townsite. By that time of year Gothic has switched from a vibrant community of several hundred people with something scheduled every minute, to a handful of people that have time to say hello even during the middle of the day. Even though it is more relaxing, it’s hard not to miss the good friends you made in the summer—memories fill the empty space. This year in particular it was hard to say goodbye to the students. It was probably the best bunch I’ve seen in my 24 years at RMBL. I’ve raved about them in a previous blog, but it is worth repeating. They were not only smart and engaged, but truly nice people. I enjoyed talking with them, hearing about their projects, and learning about them as people. I found their presence uplifting. It wasn’t just that I liked them, but that it is reassuring to know that they are a part of RMBL’s future. The real strength of RMBL is its community of people, and these students will only richen RMBL in years to come. It is good to know that Gothic will be in good hands when I am simply one of the ghosts wandering the townsite too.