Look up places to visit in Stillwater on google and it might only show you 4-5 different places: Boone Pickens, Boomer Lake, of course Oklahoma State University and occasionally the Botanical Gardens. I have been asked about how I am liking the summer in this modest university town, and this is my response to them and my friends all around my universe:
Being a very esoteric guy firmly attached to his roots of personal devotions, I tend to have the habit of finding true jewels in the midst of barren lands. Just like Mr.Potter seeks the golden snitch, I seek special people, ordinary people, stories, laughter, nature and all at once. The tale of my summer began at the end of my second semester here at OSU, possibly the last I would have as a curriculum based academic period. I was fresh as a flower from the engagement of finals and all that. Some of my friends went back to India for a well deserved break. Some of the others just wanted to act Columbus and explore America. Beautiful, and what did I do? Any guesses? Just stay in Stillwater like a silly snob. But I have started to find true love within this 'still' town that is a great example of how a university town must be. My daily ordeals at my research, both scientific and non-scientific gives me a greater picture of a place than some of the stereotypical.
The month of May and July gave me a chance to relocate, reaffirm, restore and reminisce some of the memories of my own country that I miss so much, not because it's my country but because of its robust character. Stillwater is one big family if you see it that way. The same guy that checks outs your books at Edmon Low may be seen serving you Pizza at Hideaway, drinking at Outlaws and sobering up in the Public Library. To be good friends with that same person, doubles the fun and frolic of having a bubble of comfort around you that you know the place. A good mix of hysterical, educated, southernish, Chinese, Indian and rest of the world people make this place interesting. My first visit to Lake MacMurtry got me recording 'Champagne Supernova' on guitar by Oasis. For some reason the line in the song "People believe that they're gonna get away from the summer, you and I, we live and die, the world keeps spinning around, and we don't know why" felt very synonymous with the situation. Other than lovely bikini-clad ladies soaking the sun and much of my attention, I saw families bonding over the joy of being together. Children crying for their first taste of swimming, cook outs and much more.
The second occasion was my visit to the Sheerar Museum which highlights much of the Native American history that corresponds to Stillwater's beginnings. As much as i was exposed to the history of the red dirt people, I was convalescent after Brazil's premature exit from the Copa America. The authorities at the museum were courteous enough to offer me access to some rare archives after I introduced myself to them as an International student at OSU. I must admit I felt special. From the monotonous to the ever dynamic, my heart always leaps for love. It is truly one of the greatest things to ever chase and we chase it every moment, consciously or unconsciously.
The final story that I would like to recite was my tour to the Botanical Gardens not too far from the university campus. With plants ranging from Japanese to Australian, green houses and much of agricultural research that is part of Oklahoma's lifeline and its gift to the country, I had a unique rendezvous with the place. I can only sum up my summer as a visible spot on the light side of my moon when i am descending into the night of it. In the fall semester, I wish a lot of things will change and may be this melancholy and sheer presence of this place will be lost in the midst of young energy in the form of new students arriving. But, I believe Stillwater is one of the best places that I have called home. Small and beautiful, loyal and true, sober but strong and gliding gently along.
'Oh, Stillwater,
where you meet the me in my life,
I am there where you wish me to be,
in the arms of the country land...'
