Retrospective.

Virgo:: Nearly half of American high school students believe that the government should have the power to censor the news. Surveys also show that a majority of adults in the U.S. would vote against the Bill of Rights if it were presented to them in a referendum. Don't be anything like those wackos in the coming days, Virgo. On the contrary, you should fight for all the freedom you can imagine, including the freedom of other people as well as your own. Be an expert in liberation.
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A fitting horoscope for a graduation. One chapter of my life is ending and another is beginning. Though things at home are much improved, I will still be entering a constraining situation, and one in which I have been often accused of being too open-minded. It is good to bear in mind that freedom is the light at the end of the tunnel, even if it is cleverly disguised.

Anyway, I wanted to talk about the last four years. I got a good hour and a half into a post about it, and then, predictably, LJ ate it. So here you go, perhaps the abridged version.

Heather: What are you going to do without your toe-tingler? I'll miss you so much. You were my first friend here, and we should not lose touch, not while you're still in Maryland. I don't know what I'm going to do without you banging on the walls or yelling "PUD!" when I sing too loudly. We've been through a lot-- tv obsessions, Literary Journalism, getting our hearts shattered, and one notable flying remote control. I want you to take this summer to produce one thing you're proud of. A story, a poem, a startlingly honest journal. I want to read it. You'll be okay-- one foot in front of the other, forward progress is good. You just have to do it. Also, remember The Message: "When you can't walk..." Your friends love you, and we have strong arms.

Racheal: Our favorite Jewish-American Princess. You have such an exciting summer ahead, but don't forget to take the time to stop and be grateful. Experiences like you're having are rare, so be sure to appreciate them to their fullest. I'll miss your sense of humor, but I'm not worrying all that much, since you're so loud I'm sure to be able to hear you clearly all the way from Jersey. Take care to submit thorough background checks of all specimens you're considering dating to the Redhead Brigade Review Board (RBRB), because pookie, your taste in men is questionable. :) Walk to the beat of your own drum, but be sure to figure out your place in life's larger orchestration.

Aster: Naked hair dye time! Okay, so that might be a little hard to pull across the globe. Of all of my friends, you're the one I'm most worried about losing contact with. You're gonna do Big Things. Don't think that because that's so, you have to know everything about everything. Being human and fallible is good. Having lots of room to learn and grow is good. Don't be afraid of the parts of you that you can't quantify-- they're what make you you. Call, write. Keep in touch. And if ever you're in Prague again, you know what I want. Plus more Gazpacho. If you end up in DC for the summer, let's go clubbing.

Noble: I miss you, Communal Boyfriend. I know you care more than you let on, and we all love you for it. Be sure to keep July 3rd free on your calendar.

Laura Caroline: I feel sad that I barely got to know you. Keep on with the art, and keep in touch, because I want that watercolor. Honestly, it's gorgeous. Send me invites to all of your openings, and hug James a lot.

Mike: You're not a school friend, but you've been such an integral part of my last four years that you deserve a mention. As I look out over the crowd tomorrow, as I walk across the stage, it will be so strange not to see your face looking back at me. I know that things got bad, and I know that they'll never ever be what they were. If we can get to a place where we're happy and okay, I will be content. I want to know you. I want to keep on knowing you. You made such an impact on my life-- you taught me how to feel, how to open my heart. How to be vulnerable. I alternately bless you and curse you for this. Regardless, I will eventually get to a place where I don't think of the bad things, where it doesn't hurt to see your photos or hear your voice, and I have rainbow sprinkles to help me get there. Thank you for all the positive changes you began in me, and here's to the continuation of their blooming. It's now my own undertaking, but I'll keep my chin up. You know me, it's what I do. Take care.

McDaniel College: Here's to Hoover library at sunset. The peculiar, soothing calm of Westminster in the evening. The eclectic kitsch of the Pour House. Sledding down the golf course while being snowed in during Jan Term. "Jew, shouldn't you be out killing Jesus?"/"Witch, shouldn't you be out killing babies?" Captain Mal's SpacePants. Star Trek Joe. Idiot Freshman. Singing with the Madrigals-- "Margie Margie Needs a Bra." Dr. Mary on turbo-speed. "Party to the edge of Panek!" "I'm not drunk-- I can still spell 'dictionary'!" Working at the Bookstore. Calling Mike Pitsikoulis "Luigi." Jooooooooan. Veronica Mars! The bible is not a doctrine, it's a book. The frat boys next door butchering some old-school Bon Jovi. "Chava Roth is perfect. Why can't I hate her??" Making fun of Rac's exes. Noble dressing up as Jesus for Halloween. Skanky Jackie (who is now married!). Mark's Legolas impression. Jessica LaFortune. Naked hair dye time! Night Shift. Threatening to harpoon Linsday. Lindsay losing her keys. The Jersey Shore. Philly. Gettysburg. Hershey Park. The girls down the hall who wouldn't ever shut up. Telling ghost stories at 3am in the middle of nowhere during RA training. Michael Dirda's disturbing sexual references. Ren the transsexual. Water fights (and Rac's facial expression). Fruit flies (and Rac's facial expression). Smith House telling everyone that they're pregnant. The gayest little hobbit who ever did gay! Garden State. This is not my best day ever. Chris sticking his finger into Heather's soup. The David Bowie Disease. Spring Fling. The wall outside Blanche filling up with half-naked co-eds the minute the temperature rises above 60 degrees. Midnight breakfast. The trash truck shaking the building at 4am. Winning "best booty" as an RA award. Singing along the MMBop and New Kids. Molesting your heterosexual roommates. Laura 1.0 who sucked. Laura 2.0 who didn't. Sharing a ritual with Racheal. Kyle's constantly asking us to go out for drinks. Sakura. Ashley's awesome documentary. Rac's dejected flip-flop. Our gay boyfriend ("Try it this time without the swishing"). Glenda in the coffeeshop. Having residents ask me out on my evaluation slips. Pink and blue hair. Mike humping various walls (and people). Heather banging on the wall. Crushes with ambiguous sexual orientations. Margie and her Merry Band of Freaks. "You're an English major. What are you going to do? Teach?" "All y'alls best step off." "Golly gee! You're just swell! Wanna go to the sock hop with me?" "No more emotional fucktards!" The Buffy finale. The Angel finale. Farscape marathons. Decorated doors on birthdays. And, in conclusion, "UTERUS!!"

(Feel free to add on in comments.)

To do today: Dinner with Dr. Mary, a final trip to the mailbox, finishing packing, loading a truck with all of my worldly posessions, Baccalaureate practice, Baccalaureate, dinner, Star Wars.

Until next time, all.

ETA:: WE DO NOT STOP FOR JESUS!