Thomas Carlyle wrote, “The true university of these days is a collection of books.”
Last night we were in Kingston for a hockey game. My son plays goal on a “AA” rep team representing the city we live in. Kingston is as far east as our loop goes, so I was pleased to make one of our trips this early in the season when the weather was fair. If you have ever driven through Kingston in the dead of winter then you know that it can be a mean drive through ice and snow. Kingston just happens to be located in one of those geographical areas that may see a lot of snow in winter, making for poor driving conditions. There are a lot of snowy towns and cities we will have to travel to this winter to play hockey.
In the past we have had to drive to tournaments and games through raging, blinding snow storms. During one tournament in Barrie last year, we drove through a freezing rain storm. I almost wiped out on a stretch of highway just outside the city. Someone driving a van lost control of his vehicle in front of a transport truck that was just ahead of us. I didn’t know the van was there. The truck driver saw the van spinning wildly, and got into the other lane. That’s when I saw the van smashed into a guardrail on the side of the road, it’s front end out over my lane. I swerved just in enough time to avoid hitting it. As I alluded to, it’s been a challenge to get my son to his games. It is at these times that I wished he had chosen a summer sport like baseball or soccer rather than hockey, but this is the game he loves and plays so well. I need to ensure my winter driving skills are at their best every year.
We left early yesterday in order to be at the game by 6pm. My son’s team has to be at every arena one hour before game time. We arrived in plenty of time to stretch our legs and get ready for our next adventure which had nothing to do with hockey.
We had a sidetrip planned before the start of the game. Our friend who had recently earned her Master’s Degree in history, needed some books returned to the library at Queen’s University. Since we were going to be there we offered to return the research material for her. After dropping my son off, my wife, daughter, and I looked at the map and made our way from the arena, past the penitentiary, and into the heart of the university area.
It’s been years since I’ve traveled to Kingston. I used to have relatives in Kingston and I remember many family car trips to visit them. I also remember a scout trip to Fort Henry when I was a boy. I don’t ever remember my parents driving past the old Kingston penitentiary. It was eerie looking up at the high walls, the guard towers, and knowing what that facility stands for. My wife commented on the marina that is situated right outside the east wall.
We made our way through the small side streets looking for the library and a place to park. Even though our friend had given me fairly accurate directions and a map, we still had to stop to ask a few students where we were. I found the ones we talked with courteous and more than willing to help. My friend had warned me that this is their area and they walk across the streets at their leisure. More than once we had to be careful of students returning to their residences from late classes.
We found the library on a little street of old houses. We parked the car, got out, and carried the books on a short walk that led us to this huge repository of knowledge. There were books everywhere, computers, desks, and alcoves for quiet study. The library was filled with students reading, taking notes, and conversing with others in hushed whispers. My wife began reminiscing about her own university days and said she wished, right at that moment, that she was a student again. Our brief time there brought back a lot of wonderful memories for her. All the while, I think my daughter was taking this new experience to heart. I could see her envisioning a future that waits just a little ahead on the path she now follows. I think both my wife and I were hoping that she would be intrigued by what she saw during our brief visit. This year she began high school which is one step closer to a seat of higher learning and what lies just beyond that horizon.
James Bryant Conant wrote “He who enters a university walks on hallowed ground.”
We were definitely on hallowed ground at Queen’s University in Kingston.
We chatted in the car on the road. She asked us all sorts of questions about university life. My wife was only too happy to answer, as I tried to figure the shortest route back to the arena.
We arrived just in time for the two teams to be on the ice. I think our mission was accomplished in more than one way last night. While my son’s team played, my daughter did her homework. It was his turn to be on the bench, watching from the sidelines as backup, mentally preparing for the next game and his turn in goal. And through the magic of radio, I was still able to be on the air with you last night…
Oh, and by the way, our team won the game…
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Don Jackson
Hello Don: The passion of hockey and what we will do to be sure to get to that game or in one instance last year to get home from a game. My nephew’s biggest travel destination for league play is Barrie and I remember an extremely heavy snow fall one Saturday night after a game where we also encountered the spinning van. It was the most nerve racking drive I have ever had mostly because I had the 12 year old and his friend who had played a winning game and the 5 year old nephew’s with me. I was thrilled when we finally drove out of the snow but even more I was thrilled that the boys had their hand held games to distract them. The passion of hockey means we will do it all over again come snow, sleet, hail….. This weekend I will go to a game even though the nephews are all out of town visiting relatives and will not be playing.
I’m glad you enjoyed Kingston, it is one of my favorite cities. I have a girlfriend who lives there and I make regular trips to see her (through snow, sleet, hail…) and each time I am awed as much as the first time I visited when I was a child on summer vacations.
Thank you for sharing the passion.
- AndreaAndrea