Lists. And things I've learned this year. Do with them what you will.
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Words of wisdom from Great Aunt June:
"A shot of bourbon."
"You gave me really good advice before I got married, Aunt June-"
"Don't get married?"
"We're family, if we thought the cake was bad we'd say 'this cake stinks!' It's perfect."
"I was married to a man who in the end couldn't remember that he was wearing a hat, but we stayed married, and that's the way it should be."
Laugh together. Love forever.
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Places I have slept this year:
Kletz booth
Kletz floor
Floor of my dorm
Mini-futon in my dorm
Love seat in the basement of Phelps
Floor of the main theatre
Studio theatre
The Boat
3rd and 4th floors of the library
Booth in JP's
Table at LJ's
Floor of the admissions office (WINNER)
A pew in Dimnent
A desk in the back of Professor Everts classroom (only once, I swear)
On my friends shoulders and once on someone's lap.
Lend a shoulder, stay up late. Even if it means occasionally enabling irregular sleep schedules.
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Random stuff I've learned from experience and from some pretty amazing people:
Never leave a pumpkin sitting on your desk for more than two weeks.
Sometimes learning is more important than grades.
Spiders can lurk in the most unlikely places. i.e. fluorescent ceiling lights. When you find these spiders, scream your lungs out. It won't fix the problem, but it will make for a really good story later.
Let yourself cry, let yourself be angry, let yourself forgive. Let yourself realize that this process can take awhile.
There's this short Asian man in boxers and an apron who makes the best doughnuts and conversation.
Eat your body weight in doughnuts with friends, even if it means gaining a couple of pounds.
Go to the DeGraaf Nature Center and touch the wall of live bees. It won't explode, I promise.
Listen to that random tug that tells you to walk through Lubbers at midnight, you might get lucky and meet someone who knows more than you.
God exists.
Be thankful. Say "I am thankful" out loud, even if right at that moment it doesn't feel like it. Especially if it doesn't feel like it.
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Onward and Upward.
