Epilogue
The last month has been the longest party I've ever been to. I can't believe how much fun it was--and now, that's it's basically over, for good. ("Basically," because I failed my math class and have a few weeks left, beginning next week. Oh well.)
Mostly everyone's cleared out of Oxford, except most of my friends, which is good for now and the next couple days. But Tom left yesterday, back to Chicago, and on the road. I took one last Polaroid of him in his empty room, put it on the fridge next to the Polaroid of my dad tying my necktie for me right before we left for our graduation ceremony.
Our weekend was a mix between exultation and apprehension about our futures, and the fact that I'm not going to be living with everyone now and for the rest of summer, my life, etc. But mostly, we've just been tired. Our bodies and our spirits on opposite ends of the spectrum, when, on Saturday, all you want to do is bounce off the walls, dancing, and screaming and shouting and clapping, and all your body can do anymore is sit in the booth and keep your head up while you sip your drink. And then the next day you wake up and realize you have no obligation to drink tonight--there aren't scores of people that you need to go out to see/be seen by--and then you actually accept that your body and mind aren't actually on opposite ends, but have converged, exhausted--epically--and you just sit all day and heal your reality.
I'm pleased that I get to do a smoother transition out of this world than other people I know--those who are jumping right into careers, or those who are dumping into a life right now where they're assured of nothing but their parents' love. I am looking forward to the next two months, chill as I can get them, and then the (at least) two more months in CL, where I can build myself back up after a short repose and enjoy some quality time in the nest before the big move west. I feel like a lot of things are about to happen to my life. I feel like a lot of those things are going to be consequences of steps I've taken to determine my bearings. I feel lucky.
Today we went to the field on the end of Sycamore and played frisbee in the sun. Tomorrow Mikey and I are going to take some photos of Steve and Joey and Mike's old apartment, which has scaffolding assembled all over it. Then I'm going to read all day long, and feel like I've died peacefully in my sleep after living a full and beautiful life.
Mostly everyone's cleared out of Oxford, except most of my friends, which is good for now and the next couple days. But Tom left yesterday, back to Chicago, and on the road. I took one last Polaroid of him in his empty room, put it on the fridge next to the Polaroid of my dad tying my necktie for me right before we left for our graduation ceremony.
Our weekend was a mix between exultation and apprehension about our futures, and the fact that I'm not going to be living with everyone now and for the rest of summer, my life, etc. But mostly, we've just been tired. Our bodies and our spirits on opposite ends of the spectrum, when, on Saturday, all you want to do is bounce off the walls, dancing, and screaming and shouting and clapping, and all your body can do anymore is sit in the booth and keep your head up while you sip your drink. And then the next day you wake up and realize you have no obligation to drink tonight--there aren't scores of people that you need to go out to see/be seen by--and then you actually accept that your body and mind aren't actually on opposite ends, but have converged, exhausted--epically--and you just sit all day and heal your reality.
I'm pleased that I get to do a smoother transition out of this world than other people I know--those who are jumping right into careers, or those who are dumping into a life right now where they're assured of nothing but their parents' love. I am looking forward to the next two months, chill as I can get them, and then the (at least) two more months in CL, where I can build myself back up after a short repose and enjoy some quality time in the nest before the big move west. I feel like a lot of things are about to happen to my life. I feel like a lot of those things are going to be consequences of steps I've taken to determine my bearings. I feel lucky.
Today we went to the field on the end of Sycamore and played frisbee in the sun. Tomorrow Mikey and I are going to take some photos of Steve and Joey and Mike's old apartment, which has scaffolding assembled all over it. Then I'm going to read all day long, and feel like I've died peacefully in my sleep after living a full and beautiful life.