So I'm twenty years old.
Yesterday was my birthday.
Sweet.
I'm twenty years old now. As in, I am no longer a teenager. My parents can no longer tell their friends and aquaintences "We have a teenage daughter" and watch in dismay as these uninformed ninnies roll their eyes, "tsk, tsk," and shake their heads in pity, as if they had just been informed of some sort of natural disaster. No more.
I'm twenty years old now. I've completed two decades of my life. And although part of me thrills to the knowledge that no one will make assumptions, unfairly judge, or automatically label me by my "teen" status anymore, another part of me trembles to think that that loathed term -- my safety net, my security blanket, my built-in excuse -- has been taken forever.
So I'm twenty years old.
Sweet.
This is going to take some getting used to.
Saturday, August 28, 2004
Friday, August 20, 2004
It's Definitely Time To Go Back...
I want to have a structured -- or at least semi-structured -- schedule.
I want to have a 2 hour long conversation... in the Koon community bathroom.
I want to study while watching "Braveheart," "Finding Nemo," "Memento," "Emma," and other random movies in the lobby.
I want to have roomie pizza nights with Kristin.
I want to use a non-Neolithic computer.
I want to devote an un-tethered amount of time to prayer and devotions.
I want to spend an entire night remembering art history names, dates, and titles based on such non-sensical explanations as "one for each eye!" (love you, Leah)
I want to do cartwheels and round-offs in the quad after midnight and not care about grass stains or dirt in my fingernails.
I want to get back to a place where the word "Oakley" implies a sandwich, not sunglasses.
I want to sip tea and read in the library.
I want to take long walks and take pictures in the Arb with Christy.
I want to waste an hour wandering through WalMart just because it's there.
I want to bake cookies in the Whitley kitchen with Natalie.
I want to laugh with good friends in cozy dorm rooms.
I want to Instant Message with my roommate, as she sits at her desk, five feet from my own.
I want to sing the songs we sing at InterVarsity.
I want to nap in the middle of the day because I was up until 3 in the morning.
I want to *almost* set the fire alarm off using the Koon microwave to make popcorn.
I want to complain daily about the lack of mail I receive.
I want to conveniently forget the fact that there is no one to whom I send it regularly.
I want to pore over J.Crew catalogs with other monetarily-deficient Koonies.
I want to make late-night BK runs.
I want to regret spending money on late-night BK runs.
I want to cut across the KKG lawn.
I want to talk with the men and women at the nursing home and not just hear them -- but really listen.
I want to stand with my tray and look for a table of familiar and friendly faces.
I want to listen to Sarah McLachlan, Savage Garden, Michelle Branch, Jars of Clay, Evanescence, New Found Glory, David Crowder Band, Enya, Goo Goo Dolls, Josh Groban, and all the other ridiculously random cds in my collection.
I want to stay up until all hours with "writers' block" until every last word is written.
I want to dance in the rain with my shoes off.
I want to come perilously close to being late for class.
I want to paint my toe nails and read Alexander Pope at the same time.
I want to throw an all-night study session, cram instead of sleep, and ace an exam because of it.
I want to reach out to new friends while still holding old ones dear.
I want to post a blog from my dorm room.
I want to watch/assist friends in sneaking tea bags out of the dining hall. Sugar packets, too.
I want to sit on the benches around the quad and pretend to do homework.
I want to walk to the baseball fields at night and look up at the stars.
I want to discuss (and occasionally analyze) current events at the end of the day.
I want to drink coffee at The Gathering.
I want to dance on the stage in Markel with no one there and all but one light out.
I want to write -- sometimes for hours -- in my journal.
I want to brush my teeth, shower, study, and sleep with dear friends just steps away.
I'm ready to get back on campus.
I just know God's got some big plans for this year, and I'm ready to face new people, new emotions, and new situations by His grace.
May this year be filled with faith, obedience, and contentment.
I want to have a structured -- or at least semi-structured -- schedule.
I want to have a 2 hour long conversation... in the Koon community bathroom.
I want to study while watching "Braveheart," "Finding Nemo," "Memento," "Emma," and other random movies in the lobby.
I want to have roomie pizza nights with Kristin.
I want to use a non-Neolithic computer.
I want to devote an un-tethered amount of time to prayer and devotions.
I want to spend an entire night remembering art history names, dates, and titles based on such non-sensical explanations as "one for each eye!" (love you, Leah)
I want to do cartwheels and round-offs in the quad after midnight and not care about grass stains or dirt in my fingernails.
I want to get back to a place where the word "Oakley" implies a sandwich, not sunglasses.
I want to sip tea and read in the library.
I want to take long walks and take pictures in the Arb with Christy.
I want to waste an hour wandering through WalMart just because it's there.
I want to bake cookies in the Whitley kitchen with Natalie.
I want to laugh with good friends in cozy dorm rooms.
I want to Instant Message with my roommate, as she sits at her desk, five feet from my own.
I want to sing the songs we sing at InterVarsity.
I want to nap in the middle of the day because I was up until 3 in the morning.
I want to *almost* set the fire alarm off using the Koon microwave to make popcorn.
I want to complain daily about the lack of mail I receive.
I want to conveniently forget the fact that there is no one to whom I send it regularly.
I want to pore over J.Crew catalogs with other monetarily-deficient Koonies.
I want to make late-night BK runs.
I want to regret spending money on late-night BK runs.
I want to cut across the KKG lawn.
I want to talk with the men and women at the nursing home and not just hear them -- but really listen.
I want to stand with my tray and look for a table of familiar and friendly faces.
I want to listen to Sarah McLachlan, Savage Garden, Michelle Branch, Jars of Clay, Evanescence, New Found Glory, David Crowder Band, Enya, Goo Goo Dolls, Josh Groban, and all the other ridiculously random cds in my collection.
I want to stay up until all hours with "writers' block" until every last word is written.
I want to dance in the rain with my shoes off.
I want to come perilously close to being late for class.
I want to paint my toe nails and read Alexander Pope at the same time.
I want to throw an all-night study session, cram instead of sleep, and ace an exam because of it.
I want to reach out to new friends while still holding old ones dear.
I want to post a blog from my dorm room.
I want to watch/assist friends in sneaking tea bags out of the dining hall. Sugar packets, too.
I want to sit on the benches around the quad and pretend to do homework.
I want to walk to the baseball fields at night and look up at the stars.
I want to discuss (and occasionally analyze) current events at the end of the day.
I want to drink coffee at The Gathering.
I want to dance on the stage in Markel with no one there and all but one light out.
I want to write -- sometimes for hours -- in my journal.
I want to brush my teeth, shower, study, and sleep with dear friends just steps away.
I'm ready to get back on campus.
I just know God's got some big plans for this year, and I'm ready to face new people, new emotions, and new situations by His grace.
May this year be filled with faith, obedience, and contentment.