Updates from the Road Trip and Commencement Reflections

Hello again friends,
Okay, so I really have to get used to this internet thing. I haven't written much, nor have I uploaded promised pictures, but some day I'm sure I will. Soooo, since I last wrote a few things have happened. In a general note, I am going to be getting my wisdom teeth out the 2nd of July (booo!), my sister's Quince is now officially dated to be the 18th of July, and I've done most of the packing of my room pre-moving out to Lima...

Seattle was great. I got to see Kirsten Hansen-Day and Alice Manos for a lovely afternoon in Volunteer Park, munching on a delicious picnic lunch, laying out in the sun and walking through a bomb green house/conservatory with gorgeous plants. Andrew's family is awesome and they put me and my dad up before we headed out down the 101 to California. We explored Seattle, had some good foodie moments and enjoyed a nice dinner a really sweet Chinese restaurant on our last night.

The ride down was sweet, we went pretty fast, got home in 2 days. We stopped at Tilamook, Oregon and got some derricious (thanks Cheska) cheese and had some yummy huckleberry ice cream before we kept driving on. Day 2 we drove through and walked around the Avenue of the Giants. I forgot how amazing the West Coast is. Coming home, it just felt right, peaceful, serene, full of amazing places to get lost in. Ohio, you're awesome and all, but nothing compared to California. You could just feel the trees alive, knowing that the space I was in had many years of life in it, and I was just passing through. It's nice to pass through places though, I don't know if I like standing still.

We made it home a lot earlier than intended, although it was somewhat less exciting than I though. The house was empty save for my 2 cats and psycho pomeranian dog (who I love dearly despite his tiny size). Everyone was out doing their thing, as expected, but yeah, it was nice to be able to chill in my own room for a while, relax, think about the last time I was here this long. It was a break from commencement week, which was, to say the least insanity. I hadn't really sat down for more than 20 min ever since, well, since finals, and it felt quite surreal to be back in my old room, decorated almost exactly the same way when I left it 4 years ago.
___________________________________________________________________
Commencement week: haven't really settled my mind on that yet, either. It was packed full of madness, and I really felt like it began during finals. The first 2 papers I sent off to my professors, I didn't get that "you're-doing-the-last-academic-thing" feeling. Just regular old, you're-done-with-one-thing-now-hurry-your-ass-up-and-get-on-to-the-next-thing feeling. But that last one, the final one, I really took my time on, let it sit and mull over in my mind (especially during that hour Lizzie, Jackie and I watched "House" in Mudd.....), and sent if off, finally achieving that you're-done moment.

I can't quite remember all the details of that week. It was filled with absolutely no sleep, goodbyes, I'll-see-you-laters, thank yous, Feve drinks, drives to the airport, last minute packing, delicious home cooked meals, long nights, last minute errands, 13 family members flying in from California, warm weather long overdue and plans for my last trip out of Oberlin.

All in all, I'd say it was good. I slept little, which means I made the most of my time while I had it. I think I'll miss Oberlin soon, but right now it still feels like just another summer. By the time September rolls around, however, I might be singing a different tune. As for now, I'll keep enjoying the comforts of little responsibility and try and the lovely California summertime.