Ain't it good to know you've got a friend

Like most, I've found that it becomes harder and harder to make new friends when you leave the protective womb of the university. I think most people end up talking to co-workers to gripe about work problems, but that doesn't always extend outside the office (except maybe to Happy Hour).

Since moving back to Raleigh, I've caught up with a few old friends and seen a few people from my summer job here and there. It's never usually a "regular" thing though, so I don't have built in friends that I spend a lot of time with. Instead it's a movie here or a lunch there, and the random things that I think to myself or experience on a daily basis don't end up getting shared. Instead I search for "big" things to talk about, which usually just ends up being a rant about teaching.

Vixen and I have talked about the fact that our lives seem less interesting. It becomes harder and harder to tell witty stories when my life consists mostly of going back and forth between home and school.

The botched evening with Inquisitor left me feeling the truth of the statement that you can never go "home" again. Even though I've moved back to Raleigh, I know that it won't be the same experience I had when I was a student here.

I spent a lot of time as a kid wishing that I were an adult. Seriously, I used to talk about it a lot. Mom always used to tell me that as soon as I was one, I would just want to go back to my youth. I don't think I'd like to go back to being five, but I wouldn't mind going back to college on some days. In part, it's why I went to graduate school and perhaps why I still teach at a university. Being involved with a university is something I have a hard time imagining my life without.

My first few months in Raleigh were definitely lonely, but things are looking up.

Inquisitor and I talked after our night of awkward conversation, and we've both decided to forget most of what both of us said that night (though I can only imagine what kinds of things he'll tell Enigma about me).

Thursday night I went to Greensboro to see a few people from my summer job. I hadn't seen most of them since I left in July. Tom was a gracious host with yummy snacks and good tunes. I also got to see Meka, who I love to pieces. We spent the requisite time talking about who was or was not returning this summer, as well as speculating about who will take over as director. It was great to see everyone, but it made me realize that this summer is going to be very different without most of those people returning. I told Meka that I'm a bit nervous about what it's going to be like there this summer, but I hope the changes aren't bad, just different.

After Christmas I might make a trip up to New York for a few days, and I'm hoping to catch up with my friend, Six (childhood nickname), that I haven't seen for a few years. I should be back in Raleigh for New Years and am hoping to get some face time with my friend Lauraley who will be up visiting from Atlanta. Then it's up to Boston for a few days. I am beyond excited.

I promised E that I would not bring my stressed self with me. We vowed to have lots of fun before the semester starts back up for both of us (she's in a PhD program). Our plans revolve around reunions, shopping, food, dancing, and drinks. It doesn't get much better than that.

I've always hated New Years' Resolutions. I think that if you're going to make changes in your life, you shouldn't need a holiday to do so. But this year I am making a few promises to myself. I will eat better. I will be more organized (with everything). I will go out more. I will make new friends in Raleigh and spend more time with the ones that I have! I'm off to a good start because I've already made one new friend at work (hi MD!).

In the meantime, I'm going to go email a few friends that I miss and have been neglecting. To my friends who read this blog: thanks for being you; I love you all.

I won't apologize for being a cornball, because if you know me, you already knew that I am one!

Happy Holidays everyone! Go call a friend.