A Richmond Apology

For the VCU Brandcenter's annual magazine, I wrote an article about my experiences getting to know Richmond. For those who read this blog and have gotten a detailed view of my tourism, I've copied the text below.

To see the entire magazine, click this link. The article, with beautiful art direction by Leslie Buker, is on page 79.

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Dear Richmond,

As I write to you, I am stretched out on a rock at Pony Pasture rapids, enjoying the day. This moment and many others have led me to regret my attitude towards you in the early days of our relationship. I write to you today to apologize for the disdain that I showed you when we first met.

When friends told me that you were “the city that only looked like a city from across the river,” I took them at their word. I arrived in August of 2006 planning to get to know you only well enough to buy groceries, go out to dinner and take an occasional stroll along the nearby Canal Walk. For nine months, I ignored your many offerings while I sat holed up in my apartment or at the Adcenter, refusing to believe you could be an integral part of my life.

After finishing my first year of school, I stayed with you for the summer to intern at The Martin Agency. Because I had eight weekends to enjoy, I decided to spend them learning more about who you were. In order to kill two birds with one stone, I fulfilled a class assignment by starting a blog about the parts of you that I had seen. My blog, Living Richmond, started something like this: “Armed with a Dodge Neon, a map and a credit card, this Chicago native turned Richmonder expands her view of the area through weekend tourism.” Truth be told, I didn’t really plan on turning into a Richmonder. I also didn’t think that my tourist flirtation with you could last more than a summer. Once again, on both counts, I was wrong.

Since making the decision to get to know you better, every week has included at least one tourist activity within your borders. I have gotten to experience both your everyday and your extreme, visiting historic sites, museums, outdoor areas and festivals. My adventures have included taking a dip in the James River, tasting my first spoonful of Brunswick Stew and visiting a Tudor estate that was brought over from England and rebuilt piece by piece, among many others. I have heard the Byrd Theater’s mighty Wurlitzer play and have spent an afternoon at the botanical gardens looking at flowers that I could never grow myself. As I got braver, my tourist adventures expanded to neighboring areas such as Williamsburg, Washington D.C. and the James River Plantations. As a result of my Richmond tourism I have a new appreciation for you and your cultural offerings. I have gone from a student with no connection to you, the city I live in, to something much closer to a resident.

Please accept my heartfelt apology. I can truly say that I will be sad to leave you in May. You may look like a city only from across the river, but the proof is in the forty blog entries I’ve written which barely scratch the surface of who you are.

With Love,

Caitlin

PS, I hope it takes the new first years less time to figure out how interesting you are than it took me.

I'd love to meet you in person.

As I mentioned last week, I am a grad student at the VCU Brandcenter and I am working on my thesis right now. At this very moment, I am looking for people who might be willing to give me their opinions on a variety of things. If you have a point of view on any of the following, please let me know!

1. Do you like to buy American-made products?

2. Are you a big NASCAR fan?

3. Do you think that you have really strong American values?

4. Do you practice a religion, and can you tell me how that religious practice fits into your everyday life?

5. Can you tell me what you're focusing on in this coming election?

6. Will you speak with me about where you see America's place in relation to the rest of the world?

If you would be willing to give me half an hour of your time this week, I will meet you at the Brandcenter at your convenience, and will provide you with food and my everlasting gratitude.

Thanks!

4/19/08: Thanks to everyone who participated in my project! My thesis is now finished.