Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, January 24, 1993 TAG: 9301220144
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: EARLE IRWIN
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
BLACKSBURG'S STILL THE BETTER COLLEGE TOWN
A couple of days before Christmas, I left work early, interrupted my son's long-awaited holiday from school, and dragged him into downtown Blacksburg to put the finishing touches on our last-minute Christmas shopping. What an unpleasant surprise to find closed many of the shops we had hoped to patronize and absolutely nowhere to find a late afternoon snack.I bemoaned life in a college town when one is not connected to that college and must go on living day to day without the pleasant distraction of extensive holidays.
Have merchants forgotten that "real people" live here, too?
Recently, I was reminded that Blacksburg is not unique as a university town.
I also am a graduate student at that "other" university, the one in Charlottesville. This recent week I was called to that university to register for classes. Taking advantage of my son's school holiday, we headed to Charlottesville for a minivacation. Being a graduate student, full-time program director, single mother, I somehow missed the news that on this particular weekend, Charlottesville also would receive other, much better known visitors. It seems that we would be in the same town as the Clintons . . . just one hour behind them.
Once in Charlottesville, we went to the downtown mall to distract ourselves by browsing in the numerous shops and boutiques. Of course, flocks of other "tourists" had the same idea - but like us - futilely.
Were the downtown merchants open to satisfy these bargain-hunting out-of-town revelers? Even locating a destination for a late-afternoon cup of hot chocolate was a near impossibility. A local passerby explained that, of course, the shops were closed: The students wouldn't be back until the next day.
I gloated a bit, though, in spite of my disappointment, - when the students are gone, this college town doesn't even open up for the president-elect of the United States of America.
So I return to Blacksburg with a whole new perspective on life in a college town.
A postscript: While Richard and I were on the mall, he windows-hopped at a nearby party and novelty emporium. The shop owner came to the door to tell him not even to think about coming in without an adult. I escorted him to find an array of wondrous, colorful trinkets that I thought my friends and I could not live without.
Twice, when Richard politely inquired about prices, the shop owner responded rudely then literally screamed at him when he attempted to select a gum ball from a self-serve candy counter. I left my potential purchases neatly stacked at the cash register, took my child's hand and led him from the store, explaining to the proprietor that I would take my business somewhere that treated my son and myself with courtesy and respect. She screamed further retorts as the door swung closed behind me.
As I marched away, comparisons popped into my mind to shopping in downtown Blacksburg. Not that I haven't met with my share of frustration here. In addition to the closed shops, there have been non-existent parking spaces, and parking tickets for freshly expired meters, but never rudeness or discourtesy.
My thoughts drifted to Blacksburg's own downtown party store and the patience and kindness my son has experienced there under similar circumstances as he wrestled with tough decisions about how to spend his quarters.
Not only has my perspective changed, but its positive nature is overwhelming. I'm glad to be home in Blacksburg. College town and all.
Earle Irwin has lived in Blacksburg for seven years and in the New River Valley for 23 years. She is pursuing a graduate degree in psychiatric nursing at the University of Virginia.