I’m growing accustomed to my new camera. It works so much more efficiently than its stalwart predecessor. It possesses a wider range of functions—all of which are manually controlled. This is a good thing. There are still things to learn, but I am glad that the process has begun. On the day after camera purchase, I wandered around Chicago, taking advantage of what photo opportunities presented themselves. One of those efforts has already revealed itself here. On the following day, I did much the same. The weather was moderately cooperative. I’d hoped for sun, but weather forecasts called for partly-cloudy skies. In Chicago, “partly cloudy” means gray, but with a tiny, 20-second blast of sunlight bleeding through a small gash in the overcast. I’d missed the 20-second window, but found a number of photographic tableaus in the region of Chicago’s Columbia College. I’d attended Columbia College, Chicago (not to be confused with those other Columbia Colleges—yes, there’s one in Las Vegas) from 1987 until graduation in 1991. I was young enough to believe that I’d conquer the world. I’d imagined myself teaching English in Japan while writing novels I can scarcely recall now. In revisiting my old, old haunts, I was struck by the strange circularity of life; the strange surprises that crop up from time to time. I didn’t make it to Japan, though I still might: just to visit, just to photograph Mount Fuji, and a snow monkey or two. Of course there are zillions of cute Japanese guys just waiting for my lens to find them; but my interest in teaching English there has faded. I’m far more interested in a return to the Czech Republic, a journey to Russia, and—if lucky—a few extended stays in Hungary and Croatia. We’ll see how that goes, when/if it happens, but for now, I’m moderately content with Chicago, Berwyn, and whatever other suburb or town I may stumble through. Columbia College has changed, as expected. Aspects of it remain the same, other aspects have completely shifted away from the college that I recognized when I was younger. People still sit in the same places, awaiting friends, rides, or clandestine deliveries of theater costumes and such. They assume the same postures while smoking. The only marked difference I can see is minor: everything looks cleaner…the dubious Thai restaurant doesn’t look so dubious any more, and Columbia College fashion statements aren’t the bold, asymmetrical, haggled hedgehog things I remember from my own youth. Still, just seeing my Alma Mater was quite a refreshing thing, and it’s strangely fitting to include photos of the place among the first taken with my new camera. This is the most striking of the human-focus shots I made on that overcast Thursday. I’m impressed with the “ghost” I captured: the reflection of a woman who isn’t there…actually she is there…just beyond the left edge of this current photo. Well, that’s the story I’m sticking with, anyway. I rather like this photo: if I may say so, myself. There are more from this region of Chicago (and my past) and I will return (on an actually-sunny day) to collect more images. I’ll likely visit the college as well, since many of my instructors maintain their tenured positions, albeit with silver-tinged hair. As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you’re all having a great week.