endings and beginnings

Today was Muhlenberg's graduation. I remember my graduation from there 9 years ago (my Lord, I can't believe it's been that long) like it was yesterday, right down to my uncomfortable wedge flipflops from J.Crew. I remember the bittersweet feeling I had, knowing my time there was done. They have a great tradition at the school - freshman year, one of the first nights you're there, your RA gives you a card. You are supposed to write yourself a note. You get it back the night before graduation, and it's really a great thing. They do the same thing with a Candlelighting Ceremony.

After graduation, my family and I went out for dinner, at an Italian place, and then I went back to campus, where I spent the rest of the day/night packing up last minute things in my sorority house, and spending the night down the street, at a house where my friends Alex, Kate, Matt and Brian were living. A bunch of people came over, and we spent the night drinking beer, reminiscing about old times and laughing. At one point, late in the night, we decided to walk over to our freshman dorms. We ran into Campus Safety and asked them if they'd mind opening the dorms for us, and they obliged. It was awesome, to go back and see my freshman dorm. The Campus Safety officer showed us the secret staircases the dorm had (it used to be an orphanage, I think), and even offered to take us up in the college's bell tower. I guess they were used to students walking around on graduation night.

The next day, I remember throwing the last bags into my Jeep and driving back to NJ, where 2 days later, I had my first bunion surgery.

Its funny, how sometimes it takes time for you to realize how special things are. I don't think anyone in college realizes what a unique time it is.

Oddly enough, at work today, I heard Dispatch's song "The General", which is an older song, but we listened to that on repeat graduation night.