My roommate moved out today. She packed up her clothes and her books and the netting that hung above her bed; she put them in boxes and loaded them into the truck that carried her home—and with her, she took more than half the life away from our little basement room.
Her departure was a visceral reminder that my mind has been so focused on the details of this final and that paper that I have been totally oblivious to my first year of college slipping out from under my feet.
But here it goes—there it went. This time next week, I will be back on my growing-up end of town, spending time with my friend Savanna and processing photos and going to work at my anonymous retail location—and, most likely, I will be missing school.
I guess what I’m trying to say is—I need to appreciate what I have while I have it. Because as much as I would love to fast forward past my studying and my paper-writing, there’s so much in these days to appreciate: the lovely evening air that’s blowing in these windows; the familiar, beloved faces buried in their books just like me; even the pressure of having to make myself work—these moments are blessings. Life is thick with them, and they are thick with life.
And they are slipping by faster than I possibly could have imagined.
June 15th, 2007 at 11:23 am
You’re a perceptive woman, Erin.
June 15th, 2007 at 12:10 pm
Yes, very perceptive. And you expressed your thought beautifully, which is also a blessing–to you and others.
June 15th, 2007 at 10:11 pm
Yes, you should appreciate those things.
Think back to last year, when you wrote in that letter and got accepted to Gutenberg… How cool was that?
I spent the past year taking up my history grade on my final grade list. Along with my reluctance to get a real job I hung out at home watching Oprah pretending to be a freelance photographer…
Boy am I glad I get to go and study psychology next year.
Never forget the little things around you. And no matter how fast you live, always take five minutes a day to process all the wind and the light and the people and the possible tons of Oreo cookies.
June 16th, 2007 at 11:00 pm
I have just realized how final the end of the first year of college feels… it seemed to drag, and vex and tire… but somehow, looking back, through the murky waters of my soul I think it was worth it, and I’m so very glad that I got to spend part of it with you.
June 18th, 2007 at 7:45 pm
Yep. Your freshman year done, only three more to go. Enjoy them, they will go by fast!
June 24th, 2007 at 11:32 pm
[…] Photography « Watching the hourglass […]
June 27th, 2007 at 11:49 am
Thanks for this site!
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