A-N-T-S-Y!!!

Ahhhhhhhhh!!!

I am in a 100% party mood right now!

I just got out of class about an hour ago after I finished my presentation, which went extremely well, thank you very much.

When I walked out of the door, I was blinded by the light (kinda like that Manfred Mann song).

“What the hell?” I thought. Is that…is that the sun?!

As I began walking, I couldn’t believe how nice it was outside.

The sun was out, it wasn’t raining and I wasn’t wearing a hoodie.

62 degrees!!!!! Awesome.

I walked from Anspach to Moore, just people watching as I usually do.

I have to say, everyone was looking great.

I was wearing a t-shirt. Some girls were wearing less, which damn-near made my day.

Then I came to the realization that this was going to be one of the last times I walk around on campus.

I know, I know. It sounds corny. But I just can’t help think like that lately.

I mean, I really do love CMU.

I remember the first time I realized it.

It was a really nice spring day, similar to this one, probably about two years ago.

It was early evening, probably around 6 p.m. or so and I was walking by the library.

There weren’t many people walking around, just a few here and there.

I looked around me and the sun was starting to go down.

And I don’t know why, but I remember just smiling to myself.

It was kinda surreal. You don’t really know why those moments happen, but they just do.

That’s when I knew. I realized that this is where I belonged, right then, right there at that very moment.
 
And I stopped. I stopped and I stood there and I took it in. There was no question in my mind.

And there isn’t any doubt in my mind right now as I sit here any type this.

This place has been such a big part of my life, I think it’s only natural.

But as I think these things, I just remind myself to enjoy it.

Not only enjoy it, but take it all in and absorb it.

I want to remember every single little detail possible. I want to hold these memories forever.

I want to remember things like walking to class. I want to remember the people I’ve met.

I want to remember going to the bar and parties. I want to remember hanging out in my apartment.

And yeah, I even want to remember my classes, no matter how hard they were.

I do not want to take ANYTHING for granted.

To me, times like these are going to define who I am as a person and a man.

No, I’m not talking about the whole walking on campus thing. But it all ties in to my point in a way, I suppose.

About a month ago, I told my roommate Jeff, ”These next few weeks are going to determine the rest of our lives and who we are.”

I’m not sure if he agrees with me completely, but he did agree to the importance of what is happening to us.

Graduating college, getting our degrees, moving on to the next chapter of our lives.

I think I talk about it so much because I know it’s inevitable.

Another weekend is here. Another week has gone by.

Dates fly off the calendar before you can even realize it.

Two weeks left and this chapter will be closed.

I want it to be the best two weeks of my life.

I want to remember everything…every single little detail, not matter how small.

It’s been one hell of a ride already…

~ Mike D