Senior Week
I cannot believe that it is the end of my Senior Week; the end of college. I'd prefer to be writing about this in my Kenya journal, but I can't find it amidst the pile of things I need to pack at the foot of my bed. I also have so much to say that I'd never be able to finish an entry before my motivation fails. We've had a pretty great week; there have been moments of glorious weather and perfection with normal stuff. I've built Senior Week up in my mind to be this wondrous experience where reality does not apply; the fact that life anytime, anywhere still has mundane pieces as well as glorious ones.
It all started last week, when I spent the bulk of my last finals period watching Hart of Dixie in bed, avoiding the fact of writing my last college paper. I turned in the final copy of my thesis for grading to Chris and Rob Dorit early, early Tuesday morning. After that, I slept for most of the day, and then started to laze around, avoiding my last paper for West African History. I received an extension until Sunday at 1, at the absolute latest, and avoided writing that paper until Sunday morning. I turned it in at 12:59 (a procrastination monster until the very end), and was done with college. Done.
Saturday, we went on the Senior Week Six Flags trip. "We" means Ana, Christine, Katherine Hanson, Sammie and I. It was good; we rode a ton of rollercoasters (Bizarro was really good) and walked a whole bunch. We were super tired after, and so even though I was supposed to go to a party/we had planned to go out to Bishops and see Sammie's friend's band, we ended up staying in. I tried to work on my history paper, but it didn't really happen until Sunday morning. Wrote the whole thing between 10 and 1, when it was due. Afterward, we had a perfect day.
Sunday was gorgeous weather, sunny and warm without being too hot. We tried to go to a beach on the Connecticut River in Hadley, but it was roped off after the flooding brought by Hurricane Irene. So Phil, Arianne, Sarah and I went to this little spot past the rope swing on the Mill River, and sat on rocks in the river. After about an hour, they got hungry and decided to go home, but I stayed for awhile and read a book. After enjoying the warm sun and cool water in my lawn chair, walked back to Smith and played frisbee on the lawn with Gabriel, Christine, Ana, Phil, and Emily Hardy. A few people went to Syrios and State Street, and bought a whole mess of food that we sat and enjoyed as the sun began to set. Brie, and bread, and sausage and salami, and beer, and we were all together on the grass in the sunshine, appreciating the sun, the food, each other, and each other's goodwill.
Sunday was the last nice day until the middle of the week; it rained and was generally pretty grubby. On Monday, Sarah Romano and I went shopping at the Holyoke Mall for an Ivy Day dress for her, and to spend some time together. I got some summer stuff, nothing big, and we were very efficient shoppers. I also drove to Boston to see Emily, and gave her a ride to the T stop in Newton. Emily and I were all over each other, but had to stop because her parents and sister were home. It was a quick visit, I got there around 8:30 and had to leave by 11 the next morning. I edited an essay for her, and her parents gave me a graduation gift (which was really nice of them). Drove back up to Smith, and we headed to Chipotle for lunch.
It was Arianne, Phil, Ana, and I, and the closest Chipotle is in Chicopee. Despite nasty weather and extensive roadwork on I-91, the taste of biting into that Chipotle was totally worth it. Got back to campus, and headed over to the campus center for Carol’s tea in the campus center. Good snacks, but crowded (as those teas always are). We didn’t stay long, but scoped the food and bailed after a few snacks.
The weather got nice and sunny again by Wednesday, and I’m pretty sure I did some packing in the morning. We went to Paradise City for their Beers, Burgers’n’Fries special, where you get a beer, a burger, and French fries for $7 between 4-5:30 PM. It was delicious, and I discovered this awesome new beer in Cisco Grey Lady from Nantucket. After dinner, we wandered home until Victoria’s show in the Friedmans. It was so hot and muggy (it was really humid) in there that I left after a few songs, but Caroline Kang and I danced in the rain after the sky let loose around 10:30. Ended up going to Diva’s, and it was a really big night. I saw everyone there, and went with a group of the HPs. Even saw Kaley, and the Mt. Holyoke people (including Laura, which was weird and sort of painful). It was all good though, because the night ended on a way that does my daydreams proud.
For the last song of the night, “We Are Young” came on, and a bunch of the HPs took over the little platform in front of the stage, dancing, hugging, and laughing. Kate Wright and Sophie Ong came over and joined us at the end, and it was brilliant. And at the very end, as we were all leaving, Kate Wright handed me down from the stage. It was amazing. Great night.
Thursday was another amazing day; we went to the Book Mill in Montague and had a delicious lunch and a gorgeous drive through the country. It was lovely, warm and nice with a breeze. After we got back from that trip, Ana and I picked up our dresses from the tailor. We had some commitment in the afternoon, but I can’t remember what it was. I guess it doesn’t matter.
Friday, we just hurried around trying to get our stuff done. We had graduation rehearsal at 10:30, I met with Kimmie to talk about the future of the house after, and then I went and bought Commencement luncheon tickets in the afternoon. Bought food for our family cookout, and then had dinner at India House with my mom and my brother.
And therein is Senior Week and my last finals period.
It all started last week, when I spent the bulk of my last finals period watching Hart of Dixie in bed, avoiding the fact of writing my last college paper. I turned in the final copy of my thesis for grading to Chris and Rob Dorit early, early Tuesday morning. After that, I slept for most of the day, and then started to laze around, avoiding my last paper for West African History. I received an extension until Sunday at 1, at the absolute latest, and avoided writing that paper until Sunday morning. I turned it in at 12:59 (a procrastination monster until the very end), and was done with college. Done.
Saturday, we went on the Senior Week Six Flags trip. "We" means Ana, Christine, Katherine Hanson, Sammie and I. It was good; we rode a ton of rollercoasters (Bizarro was really good) and walked a whole bunch. We were super tired after, and so even though I was supposed to go to a party/we had planned to go out to Bishops and see Sammie's friend's band, we ended up staying in. I tried to work on my history paper, but it didn't really happen until Sunday morning. Wrote the whole thing between 10 and 1, when it was due. Afterward, we had a perfect day.
Sunday was gorgeous weather, sunny and warm without being too hot. We tried to go to a beach on the Connecticut River in Hadley, but it was roped off after the flooding brought by Hurricane Irene. So Phil, Arianne, Sarah and I went to this little spot past the rope swing on the Mill River, and sat on rocks in the river. After about an hour, they got hungry and decided to go home, but I stayed for awhile and read a book. After enjoying the warm sun and cool water in my lawn chair, walked back to Smith and played frisbee on the lawn with Gabriel, Christine, Ana, Phil, and Emily Hardy. A few people went to Syrios and State Street, and bought a whole mess of food that we sat and enjoyed as the sun began to set. Brie, and bread, and sausage and salami, and beer, and we were all together on the grass in the sunshine, appreciating the sun, the food, each other, and each other's goodwill.
Sunday was the last nice day until the middle of the week; it rained and was generally pretty grubby. On Monday, Sarah Romano and I went shopping at the Holyoke Mall for an Ivy Day dress for her, and to spend some time together. I got some summer stuff, nothing big, and we were very efficient shoppers. I also drove to Boston to see Emily, and gave her a ride to the T stop in Newton. Emily and I were all over each other, but had to stop because her parents and sister were home. It was a quick visit, I got there around 8:30 and had to leave by 11 the next morning. I edited an essay for her, and her parents gave me a graduation gift (which was really nice of them). Drove back up to Smith, and we headed to Chipotle for lunch.
It was Arianne, Phil, Ana, and I, and the closest Chipotle is in Chicopee. Despite nasty weather and extensive roadwork on I-91, the taste of biting into that Chipotle was totally worth it. Got back to campus, and headed over to the campus center for Carol’s tea in the campus center. Good snacks, but crowded (as those teas always are). We didn’t stay long, but scoped the food and bailed after a few snacks.
The weather got nice and sunny again by Wednesday, and I’m pretty sure I did some packing in the morning. We went to Paradise City for their Beers, Burgers’n’Fries special, where you get a beer, a burger, and French fries for $7 between 4-5:30 PM. It was delicious, and I discovered this awesome new beer in Cisco Grey Lady from Nantucket. After dinner, we wandered home until Victoria’s show in the Friedmans. It was so hot and muggy (it was really humid) in there that I left after a few songs, but Caroline Kang and I danced in the rain after the sky let loose around 10:30. Ended up going to Diva’s, and it was a really big night. I saw everyone there, and went with a group of the HPs. Even saw Kaley, and the Mt. Holyoke people (including Laura, which was weird and sort of painful). It was all good though, because the night ended on a way that does my daydreams proud.
For the last song of the night, “We Are Young” came on, and a bunch of the HPs took over the little platform in front of the stage, dancing, hugging, and laughing. Kate Wright and Sophie Ong came over and joined us at the end, and it was brilliant. And at the very end, as we were all leaving, Kate Wright handed me down from the stage. It was amazing. Great night.
Thursday was another amazing day; we went to the Book Mill in Montague and had a delicious lunch and a gorgeous drive through the country. It was lovely, warm and nice with a breeze. After we got back from that trip, Ana and I picked up our dresses from the tailor. We had some commitment in the afternoon, but I can’t remember what it was. I guess it doesn’t matter.
Friday, we just hurried around trying to get our stuff done. We had graduation rehearsal at 10:30, I met with Kimmie to talk about the future of the house after, and then I went and bought Commencement luncheon tickets in the afternoon. Bought food for our family cookout, and then had dinner at India House with my mom and my brother.
And therein is Senior Week and my last finals period.