Sometimes, I Just Wanna Chat...

You know?

I just want to sit down and talk to you, sorta like we're in the same room, because you dropped by my apartment and knocked on the door, and I called out, "Come in!" because I happened to be baking banana muffins, and so I gave you some. And we just talked about what you're doing, and what I'm doing, and what our summer plans are, and hey, are you going dancing on Wednesday night? 

The kind of talk where we just think about what we've learned,

cos even though life hasn't been too long for us, 

we've still learned a ton.

That kind of talk.

You know, cos I like you and stuff.

Cos I do, Groupies, I like you a lot.

I feel contemplative today. I think maybe it's because everything has changed this year. Finals this week. Best friends moving out and getting married. Getting my heart broken. Feeling it heal again. Deciding not to be a teacher and to change my major. Realizing I have only one semester left of school, and that in December, I'll have a Bachelor's Degree in Literary Studies. A degree! Belonging to me! Noticing that I don't have a plan for what happens after graduation. Also, I have a really sore throat, and I'm eating chicken noodle soup, and I just feel all pensive when I'm sicky and eating soup.

Want to see a picture of me when I was little?

(I'm much cuter in other pictures, but I can't seem to find those)

This is what I look like now, fifteen years later at the ripe old age of 22:

(birthday dinner at Firehouse Pizza)

Sometimes I feel as though I still only know as much as the 7-year-old me did. 

Do you ever get that feeling?

It used to be, and still is, because I feel like people are so much smarter than I am.

Now, more often than not, it's because people my age are getting

careers,

marriages,

babies,

houses,

grown-up lives,

while I still have never been kissed.

There's a confession for ya.

I've really enjoyed this blog of mine the last couple weeks or so. May I tell you why? It's because when I ask you questions, you answer them, no matter how silly they seem to be. And when you do, I learn something. I've so enjoyed reading the comments that you leave. No matter what time of day it is, I always close my laptop with a smile on my face and I have you to thank for it. 

I feel like talking about some of the fun comments you've left. But before I do, I just want to say that I've loved reading your blogs, those of you who comment. I hope I've returned the favor. I love reading about your lives, the funny things you see, the people who make you smile, and hard things that you somehow find the strength to get through. It makes me appreciate my life, the funny things I see, the people who make me smile, and the strength that I find to help me through the rough patches. 

Last week, I asked you guys (boys), what made you melt, what you found attractive. It's funny, because even though we (boys and girls) talk about how we are so different, this let me know that we are more alike than we think. Everything you find attractive in a girl, I'm attracted to in a guy. 

Goofy and smart. Absolutely. I love to laugh. I also need a boy who likes to read books and talk about them.

Childlike. The word was originally "childish," but I'd venture to say that a better word would be childlike. Childish means petty, selfish, and sometimes mean. Childlike means you find joy in imagination, living in the moment, and seeing the world for its possibilities and not its faults.

Spontaneous, caring, and thoughtful. What's better than someone telling you he/she missed you just because?

Being gracious. I don't care about how society has evolved. Men and women should behave as gentlemen and as ladies. Kindness and gratitude will never be out of style. 

I learned I wasn't the only one who loved the Power Rangers. Yes, Stephanie, the Power Rangers were for children, but I was a child, so therefore it was perfectly fine. And since we have learned that it is okay to be childlike, then it was fine for me to watch it last Saturday. Haha. And Amy, how could it be that it was before your time? You can't be younger than I am, right?

I also learned I am not the only one who gets Insta-Crushes on people. And Steven, I think he was smiling at the piano. He definitely did not notice me. Haha. 

I learned that Rick and Roxie (and possibly Becky) have never gone ice-skating!!! Darlings, how have you lived? Rick, please go find yourself an adorable date and go ice-skating. You can lure her with your delicious baked goods. Promise her a cookie afterwards. Roxie and Becky, find attractive men to take you. If possible, go to an outdoor rink next winter. It's so much fun!

I learned that there is always

something to laugh about.

Always.

The sooner we can all realize that,

the better and happier this world will be!

So.

For many of you this is finals week.

I've got two finals and two papers to write.

I won't be posting at all for a bit.

But I wanted to tell you good luck!

Even if you may not end up passing everything,

it's not the end of the world.

I would know. Haha.

So keep smiling no matter what.

And if everyone around just seems not to care,

You can be sure there's at least one person 

who likes you.

Because I do like you, Groupies, I do!

Have a WONDERFUL week!