Day 1, 2, Skip a Few...7?

In my attempt to blog everyday I realized that I might possibly have a social circle. So while it became a massive fail in my ten day, ten minute challenge I did indeed succeed in going out a few nights this week.

It's a win-lose-win then, right? Right.

It's especially hard for people like me, who live in very tiny social groups, to expand their friend circles so I'm kind of proud of myself for having a group of friends now at university. It only took four years, but seriously, who's counting?

 First moving here, felt like I was cut off from the people I knew and got along with and making new acquaintances was foreign. I spent a good chunk of my life getting to know the people I went to school with and still debated time and time again about who I wanted as a friend. And that was only in a class of fifty kids. 40,000 students at the University of Michigan has sort of stepped it up a notch.

From that pool of unwitting victims I have aligned myself with some curious folks. All of whom I hold dear. Mostly because they love me so much.

They let me know by giving me things like this:

You know who you are...

But I'm not only on the receiving end of this love train, I do nice things for my friends, too. For example, I would totally turn in their absentee ballots if they won't be in town. Not that I have ever done this. Ever. Not ever in my life.

So here's a bit of trivia for you all. Did you know that being in possession of a ballot that is not your own or that of a family member is a felony?!? Huh. Learn something new every day.

That's a bit steep, wouldn't you say? Because it is crazy hard to vote as a student in the United States.
Especially if you reside a few good hours away from your polling location.

But sorry, that was completely tangential. I just wanted to let you all know how much my friends mean to me. Especially those same friends who would bring me gifts. Like cakes filled with nail files if I were ever to be incarcerated in federal prison...

*cough cough*

So the real take-away from tonight's post is: Get out there and vote!

Day 4. Or Born to Soar

Life is not for the claustrophobic.

It's especially hard if you wear the weight of it on your shoulders. Take it from someone who knows, it'll press you deep into the ground, encapsulate you and keep you from moving and shaking it off.

Every time I get another e-mail with bad news, sad news, troubling news, bitter news, heartbreaking news, my chest tightens. There's another dumbbell added to the load. Another straw slowly breaking my back. I'm numbed and at the same time resigned to it. I sink an inch deeper and struggle a little less. This morning I read the e-mail and cried, I felt the tears falling down my cheeks and simultaneously opened my next assignment.

The world doesn't stop.

I can't afford to.

I'm only acknowledging it now because four days ago I made myself. And that's what is truly sad. Whether ninety-six leaving a gloriously appreciated life behind or twenty-three and tragically lost to us--life is ... there. It happened, it's beautiful, it's frustrating, it's terrifying. It goes and comes as it will, and it leaves us behind choking in the dust.

Today I'm going to work in my stomping boots. Because I can, today. I may not be able to so chose if and when I want life to happen, because it will, but I can decide how I react. So I'm acknowledging this crazy day by stomping.

Come stomp with me.