Recently we took a "ride" to Tallahassee to tour Florida State University with our older daughter. And I thought, for anyone one else from South Florida thinking about making the trip up, here are the directions: Head north northwest and drive forever until you reach Gainesville. From there drive another hell of a distance until you almost hit Georgia, take a hard left and in about another million miles or so -- voila! -- you'll be in Tallahassee.
Of course, the drive is worth it. It's a gorgeous campus, especially to these formerly Northeastern eyes -- stately brick buildings, shady old trees, fountains...in short, what I expect an institute of higher learning to look like rather than the sterile, industrial park-type schools we see in this part of Florida. This seemed more intimate and friendly. We saw students gathering on grassy knolls, studying together in window nooks, and stopping on their way to class to help people like us find our way around. It looked like a place where students can settle in, feel at home and really concentrate on their education.
Not that looks define a school, mind you. It's what's inside those walls that really matters. But as a writer I can't help but admit that atmosphere can certainly be compelling, and presentation is often the key to capturing attention, which is why authors hold their breath, cross their fingers and toes and pray for great book covers. They don't always get them, and sometimes they're left wondering what the heck the people in the art department were thinking. Because while no one likes to admit to judging books by their covers, what is it that makes someone pull a book off the shelf? Unless the author is a bestseller, it's the cover that makes that initial connection. We look at the picture and think, ooh, this looks like it'll be a great story. So we eagerly lay out our 5 or 6.99 or more.
Not much different than when we meet someone. Aren't our first impressions based on looks to the point where we sometimes take an instant like or dislike to someone? Oh, he's so handsome -- I think I'm in love...or on the other hand, he has spiked green hair and a nose ring -- he must be a criminal. I don't need to tell you that the first guy can turn out to be a mafia hit man while the second could potentially win a Nobel prize for his work in feeding the poor. First impressions can be so powerful, though, sometimes it takes a long while to get past them. But even after learning how wrong we were, don't we tend to fall prey to first impressions time and again?
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