words
I've always talked. That's how I've known I've made a connection with someone, is with a good, long, focused, thoughtful conversation. My closest High School friendships: Rebecca, Margot, Phelan, Ben, Mik, were all the product of regular deep, penetrative conversation. And this year the things I learned in Michigan came from important, satisfying conversations with people whose names I barely knew. Last night I was going upstairs to bed after deciding not to finish my homework, and I ran into Ben Shirley-Quirk. We started talking about varsity contact; the hugeness of it, the necessity for it in our lives. The meeting about the class seemed like a dream to me, so surreal. I am taking a step that will inevitably change my life and me. Doing something I never thought I would do, but that I see so clearly now as something I must do. We talked about what we bring to the class, what we've taken from it, and why. It was really great to talk to someone who agrees with me having to take it next semester, someone who is so positive about it, someone who shares the same anxieties and awe and intrigue about this dance form. I realize now that I, too, AM this class. We then talked about our art, our projects, language, conversation, our friendships in high school and now. I knew I was supposed to go to bed so I could cook breakfast in the morning, but a good conversation is such a treat I had to have it! Then today I ran into Amanetta coming out of Peters, and I asked her, too, about contact (wow! what a conversation starter!) and we ended up having a really good conversation about our weaknesses and comfort levels in contact, and about the dynamic of it being a predominantly white class. What an amazing opportunity to get to talk to her one-on-one about this topic in such depth and sincerity, trust and understanding. So, I'm someday going to wish I had mentioned this: I am becoming friends witb Ben Phillips and Nate Anderson. I just need a little more time, a little more conversation, and they're in.