Cambridge



In 1988 I spent the summer studying in Cambridge through a program with the University of New Hampshire. Along with about 40 other American college students, I lived and worked at Gonville and Caius (pronounced keys) College. Its Gate of Honour (above) is one of the most famous gates in Cambridge.

I was 19. It was a magical summer. My bedroom window looked out over King's Parade and the Senate House. We took our meals in the college hall, had coffee at 11 and tea at 4 in the common rooms, and drank in the buttery at night. We punted on the Cam and walked along the Backs.

But even that summer was a homecoming of sorts. I had lived near Cambridge for several years as a child, and could still remember having lunch with my mother at The Copper Kettle (directly across from King's College), and visiting Trinity and Queen's with her and my great aunt Mamie.

Marty and I visited Cambridge last Thursday and walked around the town for a little while. Other than the arrival of Starbucks, Borders, and Chili's (!!!), things look pretty much the same. The market behind St. Mary's church is still hopping. The streets are still full of people speaking every language under the sun. And Nadia's, where we bought our lunch most days back in 1988, is still going strong -- with the same menu. So, of course, we picked up our lunch there on Thursday and ate it on a bench in All Saints' Park. Right next door to the music shop where my parents bought me a guitar when I was seven years old.