An update for Dave, and for solitude
Oberlin is practically empty. I can't leave until tomorrow because I had my last final today.
You know the cartoon version of a "Christmas Carol"? Well, Ebenezer Scrooge has to stay at his boarding school during Christmas because his father won't let him come home. A part of me feels like that, but a part of me is filled with secret delight at the prospect of 15 or so hours completely alone. I plan to order pizza, pack, clean my room, take a long shower, read some Isabel Allende, and call my mom. So I guess I won't really be alone, because Isabel and mom will keep me company.
Noah left today and it just hit me about an hour ago. This is the first time we've been apart for longer than two days since August. I mean, I know that our relationship is healthy enough to withstand ten days away from each other, but I still feel really lonely and sad about it.
At times like these I think about my mom. My dad used to travel frequently when he was new at NIH so that he could learn all about public health and make contacts and do research. My mom was always so good about it - we would drive him to the airport together and then she would turn to me after he'd left and say, "Well, where should we eat supper tonight?" When most of this happened I was barely speaking intelligibly - so it's not like I was that great of a comfort. It's amazing to look back and realize how strong she was.
And that brings me to another subject: home. I will be home tomorrow in the afternoon. I plan to do a lot of cooking, seeing old friends, exploring the city, playing outside (Potomac is so warm compared to Oberlin), and learning to live with my family again. Christmas is such a weird time - it smacks of nostalgia and confusion. But in some strange, raw way I'm really looking forward to it.
You know the cartoon version of a "Christmas Carol"? Well, Ebenezer Scrooge has to stay at his boarding school during Christmas because his father won't let him come home. A part of me feels like that, but a part of me is filled with secret delight at the prospect of 15 or so hours completely alone. I plan to order pizza, pack, clean my room, take a long shower, read some Isabel Allende, and call my mom. So I guess I won't really be alone, because Isabel and mom will keep me company.
Noah left today and it just hit me about an hour ago. This is the first time we've been apart for longer than two days since August. I mean, I know that our relationship is healthy enough to withstand ten days away from each other, but I still feel really lonely and sad about it.
At times like these I think about my mom. My dad used to travel frequently when he was new at NIH so that he could learn all about public health and make contacts and do research. My mom was always so good about it - we would drive him to the airport together and then she would turn to me after he'd left and say, "Well, where should we eat supper tonight?" When most of this happened I was barely speaking intelligibly - so it's not like I was that great of a comfort. It's amazing to look back and realize how strong she was.
And that brings me to another subject: home. I will be home tomorrow in the afternoon. I plan to do a lot of cooking, seeing old friends, exploring the city, playing outside (Potomac is so warm compared to Oberlin), and learning to live with my family again. Christmas is such a weird time - it smacks of nostalgia and confusion. But in some strange, raw way I'm really looking forward to it.