This past week, both Troy and RPI seemed to have numerous problems clearing the snow. It’s been a hot topic in this week’s paper. And I know that even though we live in Troy, we really don’t visit the downtown area that often, so the Approach doesn’t really serve much of a purpose. I also realize the only important part of the Approach is the top half, because it’s the only part that makes it into most photos; the bottom half is safely hidden by the very attractive Best Western at the bottom of the hill.
However, this is still no excuse for the bottom half of the Approach—the half that RPI tries to disown, but which never manages to wiggle free of its grasp. The top half has always gleamed with magnificence. The grass, bushes, and trees are well-tended, and snow was removed at least enough for passage. The light bulbs are changed when they go out, and the marble shines exuberantly like a momentous Greek statue in the morning light.
The bottom half, however, has never, had a hint of magnificence. Its set of stairs wanders through a jungle of overgrown weeds in which the unknowing passerby can only hope a leopard isn’t camouflaged. It has become the new home of a man named George (the jury is still out as to whether he is paying RPI for the space). The snow hasn’t even been partially cleared, but has instead become a ramp straight down to Troy, slowing the nervous passage between overgrown weeds. At this point on the journey down, the question becomes, “Do I turn around and walk back up all those stairs and find an alternate route down Sage or Congress? Or, do I journey forth?” Unfortunately, while grabbing the hand-rail and sliding down might be entertaining, walking back up a ramp of ice is no fun at all.
The two parts of the Approach can be likened to two siblings. While the taller and shinier of the two gets cleaned up, trimmed up, snow-plowed, and shown off in photos, the shorter and more ugly of the two gets shoved behind the Best Western, neglected, and forgotten. However, it’s difficult to get down into Troy or to come back up to RPI without first going through both staircases. How can RPI and Troy let the bottom staircase sit in such ruin while the top flourishes?
