If It Ain't An Avacado, What Is It?

dorm 2
Originally uploaded by The Sloan.

A Salute to Schwartz

It was cold this morning, surprisingly so. Sent myself a very important email, tossed on a jacket, and headed out the door. When I got to the library I printed out 14 beautiful pages that almost stung my hands as I took them to the stapler. Laser printers are hot. A short walk to Morton from the library was my last responsibility. There, in the creative writing office, I sealed the deal by putting the paper in my nonfiction instructors mail box. My last responsibility as a sophomore was over.

Walking back I didn't feel any different, which surprised me. I thought I would be hit with an instant surge of sentimental notions and of fear since these first two years of school have gone by so quickly. I'm halfway to it and the real world isn't going to slow down for me. Rather than fear or sentimentality for the school years themselves I've found myself having sentimental notions about something much more tangible. I'm going to miss my dormitory, Schwartz Hall.

Since the first time I saw it, rain soaked from hurricane weather on August 15, 2004, this big place has been a shelter for me. In room 314 I've done a good bit of growing physically, emotionally and spiritually. Both years my roommates have left me in here all alone for the last few days. Of course it's lonely but it is especially so now that I know I won't be coming back. In recognition of what these first two years in Schwartz Hall has meant to me, I'm going to give a brief salute to Schwartz and it's people. Seven memorable Schwartz moments!

1. Move-in day.
Move in day was misery. As mentioned above it was raining and we had to haul all our stuff through it. I was already nervous as could be but at least I knew I had a couple of days alone before my roommate, who I'd never met before, moved in. Imagine my surprise when I got up to 314 and there was stuff already there! My blonde roommate, a sophomore, came in earlier than he was supposed to, likely to make sure he got what he wanted. Of course I didn't want to get started on the wrong foot, I said nothing. Coming straight from Baptist camp at Caswell and hearing about the crazy people of college I was very nervous. As soon as my parents left he opened the fridge, pulled out a beer, and cracked it open. I don't think I'd ever seen a beer consumed in such close proximity to me before, I almost passed out. That was my introduction to Roach.

2. First day of class.
I thought I was going to soil my pants when I woke up. I made it through though, and many more came!

3. Sick Roach.
A drunken roach comes into our room early in the morning, wakes me up, pukes out the window, and passes out. For more information see the archives here.

4. Robert Sterner Jr.
Though technically not an even, Bob was a wonderful RA. He's been the Wellness floor RA for 3 years now and as I leave this semester he leaves for grad school. If you don't know him you're missing out on a great personality.

5. First Caro-kiss.
Happened in the third floor common room on November 21, 2004 (I think.) In any case it was a little more than a month before we started officially going out. As scandalous as that sounds, you don't want to start dating someone right before a long Christmas break, come on now!

6.Being sick.
When do you bond more with a place than when you're bedridden and forced to stare at it's walls every waking moment for days? I caught a strange virus that kept me out of class for the better part of a week in October of 2004 and more recently, right around exam time fall 2005, I got a bad case of the mono. Glad to be over those but at least I'm coming out with an improved immune system!

7. Living with Devin.
Devin gets a mention because he's been my roommate for the past year. He makes me laugh a lot. Maybe someday he'll be forced to wean himself from the zombifying effects of music, movies and TV. When that happens you'll know what I mean. I kid Devin, I kid!

So there you have it. If I think of any more in the next couple of days I'll add them, it is by far not a definitive list. Schwartz, you've been more than a home to me, you been a good pal!

David Blaine....you failed...but America is still completely creeped out by you. Keep up the good work!