About a week ago I wrote to my friends..I heard that old country song about the summertime blues. Before now I have never understood what this could possibly be written about...what a dumb song, summer is great! No school. Beautiful weather. Sleeping in late. Being with friends. Cookouts. Honestly, what could be better? But now it is so clear to me. I relate to that song. Perhaps there is something wrong with me, but summer isn't all its cracked up to be for me anymore. I used to spend it out in the sun all day playing softball with my friends. I used to go swimming in the heat of the day. I used to go fishing or camping out with the boys. But now its all changed. I work Monday-Friday 8:00-4:30...many days I go work at the tanning salon after my job at the University. I get home around 8:30 and I'm ready to crash. My mom says, "welcome to the real world (talking about my job)." I don't care to work. I've always enjoyed working. Perhaps I work too much. The blues come from missing my friends. If I had friends to come home to after work I would be okay. If I had friends to show up and surprise me on lunch break it would be okay. but my BEST friends aren't here in Huntington with me. My BEST friends are doing the same thing I am doing, day in and day out. While I do have friends here, seeing them doesn't make or break my day. When my days were rough at school, I could look forward to coming back for those late night chats..or late night runs to the C-store..About a year ago, I stood in the mall with my mom and talked to her good friend, John Hogg. He tried to tell me that Morehead would become my home, I laughed...tossed that idea over my shoulder. But here I am missing my home. Missing my friends. The highlight of my day is the 10K emails from my girls or late night phone calls. I guess this is what is meant by the summertime blues.

I was applying for some scholarship online yesterday and one of the questions was: What is the most important thing you have learned in the last year?

I was stumped! Surely I learned something in the last year. I left my computer for a bit, thought that as I was busying myself around the office it would come to me...it never did. I started to get worried (thinking bubble) .o0O You mean I spent all that money to go away to college and I dont even have anything to answer? O0o.

But no...the problem was that I learned too much.

I learned that friends make the living worthwhile. I learned that even when you say that you wont, you WILL go out to party before a big exam. I learned that you will once again rely on afternoon naps as you did long ago. I learned that sometimes you really do need to study, especially when you think that you don't. I learned that getting a well-rounded education is much more important than getting a degree. I learned that sometimes a polite smile to someone on the way to class can lead to a world of friendship. I learned that parents will be greatly missed, even when I thought I would never admit that out loud. I learned how hard it is being isolated from your family when you're going through one of the roughest moments in your life (grandpa passing away mid-semster). I learned that your friends will hurt just as much when they watch you hurt. I learned that some of the best times you will have at school will be in your dorm room--locked up for a Friday night with your friends, just talking.

I learned a lot last year...

but the most important thing that I learned was that this world is so small. I am no longer isolated in Huntington, WV. The world to me is much bigger than my town, but yet much smaller...smaller because everyone you meet will have something in common with you. Everyone you meet with have gone through many of the same things you have gone through--cried the same tears, smiled the same smiles. I was so naive in high school, only seeing my community as my world. I do not see fully yet, but I do see beyond what I once did. Isn't it amazing how small the world really is? Think about it, it is.