Dear Tafties,
At first, I was ecstatic about the icy winter approaching: no more fishing, no more Jig Pat litter, and most importantly, no more ducks treating me like their personal bathtub and bathroom. Instead, I was ready to impress the usually distracted students scurrying down Wu train with my new, hard look.
However, my enthusiasm slowly turned to an imminent sense of nervousness. As winter crept in, I began to wonder: is being the center of attention really all it’s cracked up to be?
edited by Alex Werner ‘26
The cautious explorers are my favorites. What feels better than being poked and prodded by the scared feet of those hovering around my edges, afraid to commit to taking a full step on my surface? They throw pebbles and test my new coat of ice like it’s some kind of science experiment, waiting for me to assure them: “Hey, don’t be afraid and come on in! I promise I’m super strong and totally not slippery at all.” Well, spoiler alert: I can’t talk, so I will never say that, and you will just have to live in constant wonder about all the fun you could’ve had. Plus, I secretly like seeing all the newbies take a tumble. It’s a learning experience you can’t get in the classroom.
On the other end of the spectrum, we have the hockey players. Let me tell you, they certainly aren’t afraid of me – they own me. If I’m being honest, I crack a little when I see them approaching in large clans, all sporting matching puffers. They remind me a bit of penguins, except that they rudely stride across my face, digging their blades into my smooth surface. Ouch. And don’t get me started on the photoshoots. It’s always, “Wow, look at these hockey players posing so majestically on the pond!” Meanwhile, I’m literally holding them up. I’m sick and tired of everyone taking photos on top of me but never with me. Nobody likes my solo Instagram posts, but once a couple of hockey players geared up in jerseys show up, it hits the Instagram stories and inundates my main feed.
Now, this one might be a personal concern, and I’m not sure any of you can help me. As Mr. LaCasse announces that the pond is open for play, I kick back my feet and start enjoying my role as winter’s MVP. Of course, just as people begin to enjoy my frozen self, things start to heat up. The next thing I know, parts of me are roped off like I’m some kind of biohazard, a threat to human nature. Do you know what it feels like to have a whole part of you bordered off from the human touch? As they corden me off, I hear everyone thinking: “Don’t go there! He’s so weak that if you even think about going near, you will fall into his freezing water and drown!” Can you imagine if somebody wrapped caution tape around your forehead just because you were having a bad hair day? Not a good move.
So, Tafties, as you glide, or cautiously waddle, across my frozen surface, please remember who supports you. I’m trying to stay solid, but we all know our Watertown weather is as reliable as the Taft WiFi. Be kind to the pond, and the pond will be kind to you.
