Bethany College: Class of 2010
Zachary took this photo of his belongings to use as the cover art for a six-disc mix CD he made for his non-girlfriend. Notice the aviator sunglasses; he bought them at the same time as when I got my vintage frames, during his visit to New York for his 17th birthday.
Jeep packed with only the essentials and a Rubbermaid tub full of wallpaper-print button-down shirts, my brother left this morning for his first year of college. Although hardly anybody can tell, he's very excited and a little bit nervous, but I'm quite confident he'll run Bethany College within days. He already has his football game ensemble picked out -- green and white striped polyester pants, a way-too-tight Bethany t-shirt, and his kelly-green trucker's cap. Nevermind that he hates football; he's the half-time show.
I am very excited for him as well, as I remember my own move-in day at Edinboro. It was strange, though, to watch Zachary's actions these last few weeks. Almost every night he would go out -- to a party, to a movie, on a date, on a non-date. Last weekend was the "goodbye weekend" for his friends, so attendance was mandatory. As we are quite opposites socially, I never experienced any of the "one last hurrah" parties and goodbyes. I grabbed by diploma and never looked back, so watching my popular brother leave has been surreal.
This next month is going to be different compared to the summer. I'm already lonely and pacing the house. Usually in a half hour I'd be sitting at the bottom of the staircase and yelling for Zack to get his ass up because I want someone to talk to. I guess my new companion this September will be Gretel and the stack of mailing lists I have neglected to type for three months. Still, Zack was my best friend while I am home. I miss my brother already.
Top Ten ZJS Moments
10. Continuously hearing about how much he needs a "beej"
9. Me defending his moodiness to our irate mother
8. His Gretel voice
7. Mocking the Steelers and their ridiculous fans together
6. Watching musicals
5. Agreeing that "yes, your sideburns look sweet"
4. Not worrying about eating my whole lunch, because he'll finish it
3. Singing songs by Glenn Campbell, Gordon Lightfoot and the West Coast Consortium
2. Hearing about how I look like a grasshopper and "meep" like a baby bird
1. Mother yelling because he's used all the toilet paper in my bathroom in three days