Chapter 6

Second Vision

Friday, noon

As I walked back to the library, my forehead relaxed a little, my mind not so much. Falling leaves weren’t enough to distract me from all the questions that needed answers. Why hadn’t I heard something about Digital World before now? What’s the talk at the other schools in our system?

Back at Fine Arts, I glanced up, no golden light. Inside, a work-study student handed me an announcement card for each of the exhibitions on third floor.

“Can you tell me where the installation with a bright light and cross is?”

“I don’t think we have a show like that right now.” He frowned.

“I saw a golden cross outside a third-floor window earlier this morning when I walked by. Are you sure there’s nothing like that on third floor?”

“I haven’t seen anything, but go on up and check it out.”

Off the elevator, I turned and walked past every window on the west side, but there was nothing on or near any of the windows. The corner window where I’d seen the cross was filled with wheel-thrown clay bowls on pedestals, nothing else.

Did I imagine it? As I left the building, I looked up at that third-floor window again. All the windows on the west side were exactly alike, as they should be. Why did I see something that isn’t there? Walking along, wondering why I had some sort of hallucination this morning, I collided with David Nichols.

“Oh, sorry, David, I don’t seem to be paying attention to where I’m going.”

“Never mind, that’s OK. I just left the library; do you have time for coffee?” He squinted over his wire-rimmed glasses.

“Sure, David, sounds good. Student Center?” As we turned to go, I realized I hadn’t thought about lunch; maybe a break will clear my head.

We took off, I glanced at him again. He was more animated than usual which made me wonder what was up. A full professor, he specializes in the Late Roman Antiquity period, my area of research. We often have interesting discussions; and he asks me to teach an introductory course on history of religion whenever he needs more time to work on his latest book. It crowds my week; but provides a nice change of pace in my schedule.

David is ‘old school,’ if there is such a thing; the opposite of ‘early adopter’ or one who takes up with every new technology as soon as it appears. Maybe ‘old school’ describes those who don’t like to move fast or face something new every week. His books are published always, and only, in hard copy. No digitizing for him.

The current ‘new school’ seems to be for digitization of all publications; and is, according to many who adore technology, the future of scholarly publishing. That may be true on some level, but it should not yet, if ever, be trusted to replace all bound volumes. As for me, I have to keep up with both: adapt to and adopt the best of new school, select and conserve the best of old school. Librarians walk a fine line under the watchful eyes of both old and new school faculty, administrators, politicians, and students.

David believes digitized books are reduced to electrical impulses in an electrical circuit; so if the power is off, there's no book. I think it might be best to have both digital and hard copies. David, who’s serious and ponders everything, pushes me to think about all possible ramifications of decisions that have to be made concerning long-term storage of recorded knowledge. I also pay attention to those signs on dilapidated bridges that warn me to ‘Proceed with Caution.’

I'm in no way a Luddite, but I don’t like to talk about my views and I won’t accept and adopt everything just because it’s the latest. Each new technology must be assessed and tested before it can become a trusted archival tool, whether it’s for publication, storage or dissemination of knowledge.

Print media in academic libraries is not only a strong tradition, so far it’s the most durable and reliable way of storing information and an external device is not required to view its contents. Of course micro-fiche requires a reader, but each card is a hard copy. For now, electronic digitization is just an addition to the mix; it hasn’t replaced everything. Of course that could change in the future.

“Let's go this way.” David made an abrupt left turn and set a brisk pace.

We passed a classroom building, Arts and Sciences was straight ahead. Then I saw a golden glow ahead. It made a second floor window look metallic. I kept looking as the light began to take the shape of a gladius, a Roman short sword. Maybe that lasted a couple of seconds, then it changed into a Christian cross and a few seconds later was gone. That window looked like every other window.

I didn’t think David saw that; he still looked straight ahead as he mumbled to himself. I didn’t speak. Maybe some students were playing around with special effects. If so, very clever of them.

And then, several of those long time past monks who lived in the Egyptian desert appeared in my mind. I’d read so much about them; I almost laughed, as I thought maybe they’d called to me. But that’s crazy. People don’t see the past in their heads; at least I don’t know of anyone who does.

Thoughts drifted, maybe I’ve been in the same job too long or maybe that’s part of getting older. I’m only forty-five, but some days I feel older. I guess today is one of those days. The budget crept back into my mind. I wonder why there are so many ups and downs in the support of education. It’s a given we want our children to have the best education possible, from the beginning all the way to higher levels. That’s how we keep up and advance in all areas.

I wonder why it’s so easy to get side-tracked by wars. Are we in some way obligated to right every wrong in the world; or fight against every style of government that doesn’t imitate ours? Of course the worst situations, genocide or natural disasters for instance, can’t be ignored. But is fighting the only way? Aren’t there other ways to effect change where it’s needed?

So many federal policy decisions seem to influence regular life in some negative way. Sooner or later the stupid and harsh parts of history are repeated. I wonder if history repeats itself because some in leadership slept through their history classes; or maybe some history profs didn't do their jobs very well. From what I know about higher education, I’m more inclined to believe the former.

Of course there's also the possibility that some people who seek big-time, policy-making jobs also seek the power to go off in certain kinds of directions. It concerns me. Maybe some could benefit from more quality time in a library. Much perspective on situations could be gained through informed reading before decisions are made. Isn’t that one of the things education is for? Why else would humankind spend so much time and effort to educate not only potential leaders, but everyone else as well? After all our intentions and efforts to educate, we should be living in a much better world instead of rushing from crisis to crisis, war to war.

Humans sometimes seem to be a weird bunch. If education isn’t the answer, could stupidity be the answer? No, it’s not, but it sure keeps popping up, over and over.

How about Vietnam where, in spite of our best efforts, North and South became one and the sun still rises every day, emerging after its journey through the underworld as the ancients believed. And, since Vietnam, there have been still more wars. Undoubtedly some other possibility for violent engagement lurks somewhere in the world as we walk to lunch.

What will future wars be like and how many do we have to wage? Am I making too much of this? No, I don't think so; because paying for wars takes lots of money away from other important governmental responsibilities at all levels, including education. There might be fewer faculty to educate future leaders. The university library might be forced to buy fewer books and have fewer staff members. Fewer books, less information, might lead to more mistakes by our leaders.

Damn, that’s so cynical. Is government like that? Maybe I’m mistaken; maybe it's just today after that downbeat meeting. Digital World popped back in my head. What could it mean for the future? I shut that off, gonna have to learn to roll with the punches or I won't last till retirement.

And now I’m seeing things. Maybe this job is getting to me. I’d better put those budget problems in the subconscious and let it start processing in the background. Yes, I do believe the subconscious mind, a source of creativity and unique to the human species, can multitask like a computer. We just have to learn to tap into it. For now I’d better stay in the present moment.

“John, you seem preoccupied.” David opened the door to lunch, and I let go of all those ruminations.

 NEXT.....Chapter 7
News from Egypt