Hail to Alma Mater

Today, my dear readers, is filled with emotion.

Today is the day of Northwestern University's commencement. 

So here I am sitting and staring at a blank screen remembering what that day felt like. There we were in hideous hair-flattening mortarboards and figure-crushing purple robes that were supposed to celebrate all we had achieved in what suddenly felt like four SHORT years.

And as much as I wanted to rip off that hat and gown and show everyone that NO, REALLY, I AM CUTE...

Part of me never wanted to take it off because I knew as soon as I did, that meant my friends were going away.

Turning in your purple gown was the sign of a final farewell. And in a fury of flashes from photos and smiles from strangers you were expected to clutch on to your friend one last time to say anything you wish you'd said in four years, but instead all you could say was, "see you soon...I hope".

And maybe you did see them soon. Maybe some of them ended up in your city, but some of them ended up 3,000 miles away and somehow it seems the ones you wish were here always end up over there.

So here I am sitting and staring at an empty suitcase remembering what this day is going to feel like. Sunday, when we're all on stage in butt-flattening jeans and ill-fitting polos wanting to take them off to show everyone that NO, REALLY, I AM CUTE...

Part of me will never want to take it off because I know as soon as I do, that means my friends are going away.

And maybe I will see them soon. Some of them will end up back in my city, but some of them will end up thousands of miles away.

And thus is the life I've chosen.

(I'm not sure that was a proper use of thus but it sounded super appropriate so I'm going with it.)

So to the graduating class of 2012 as they clutch their friends for one last time, I say

GET USED TO IT.

Shit, text her from the airport and stop crying.

I lost the WICKED lotto,

TJB: Making It