Three down, one to go

In 2 days, I will be leaving Farmville for the third time. Then, in August, I will return one final time to wrap up my fourth year. Wow. How did it all go by so fast? I remember moving in that very first August. I felt like I was coming to summer camp. And indeed, for those first few days, it felt like summer camp for semi-adults with the planned activities during the day and kegs and solo cups at night. Of course, that time only lasted for a few day and I was quickly reminded that I was here to learn. So for the past 3 years, that's what I've (mostly) been doing. But I learned much more than the courses that I enrolled in. I really grew up these past three years. I made decisions freshman year that I would never make now. I learned from mistakes, I gained friends, lost friends, kept friends. I got more and more comfortable with Longwood, and now I'm kind of sad to leave for the summer.

It's bittersweet that I'll be starting my senior year in the fall. In some ways I wish I could just graduate already and continue with nursing school so I can learn things I know I'll use and be able to have a job and be a real person. But then I think of the responsibilities that come with being a real adult, and not an adult-in-training, the way I think of myself now. Well either way I guess I'll find out in a year.

Twenty-one

So today begins the day that I become obsessed with my upcoming birthday on Wednesday. I learned on my 18th birthday that your birthday is always as big as what you make it. I went all out with my 18th birthday by going to lunch at my favorite restaurant with 25 of my closest friends, back to my house for cake, and then getting my belly button pierced and visiting a sex toy shop before dinner with my parents and then going to a club. That was a good day.

My 19th and 20th birthdays were a little less climactic. Especially with a Virginia Tech shooting happening just a few days before my 19th birthday and being an RA the following year, partying was minimal. Well, for my 21st, all of that will change. I have so much planned starting on the actual birthday, Wednesday the 22nd. I'm trying my best to get all of my work done before then, but unfortunately I can't concentrate because I just keep thinking of the fun things I will do and how I can plan for them.

I can't wait to celebrate the last birthday I'll ever be excited for with all of my good friends.

Wicked

I've always been a fan of musicals. The first songs I ever remember singing were from the Phantom of the Opera cassette tape my dad played continuously in his car. My sister and I would sing our lungs out (she always made me be the boy though - maybe that's why my voice is so severely alto now) while my dad drove us to school, ballet practice, and piano lessons. So I guess it was no surprise that when we went to New York in elementary school, Phantom of the Opera was the first show I saw (followed by Cats the next night... which was equally spectacular). As much as I loved singing to that cassette, seeing the show was so much better (even though I knew the whole story by heart by this point).

Since then, I've seen plenty of stage performances and even became involved in the theatre department of my high school. I love everything about musicals. The singing, dancing, story line. I love the fact that it's all happening right in front of my face. I love that so many little things have to go right or the entire production is doomed. I love that it takes so many tens of people to create a show for my viewing pleasure. While I appreciate all of these things in every show, Wicked blew me out of the water the first time I saw it.

It was my senior year in high school during my winter break, and even though I was about 15 minutes late (damn DC traffic), at that December matinee in the Kennedy Center in our nation's capital, I was blown away. I was awed by the costumes and scenery, blown away by the singing and acting, and choked up at the end of the first act (ok I actually bawled my eyes out).

Since then, I've been waiting for the traveling show to bless Virginia (or really anywhere vaguely nearby) with its presence. Unfortunately, with my strict class schedule and the fact that Wicked's shows generally sell out within hours, this has been a difficult task. However, on May 16 in Norfolk, I will be seeing this show again with my roommate and friend Megan. I absolutely can't wait.

It will be fun to see it while knowing the ending, story, and music even better than before. Also, it's always interesting to see a different cast. The last time I went, I was with my mom, sister, and 2 friends. So this time, it will be nice to not have the stress of traveling with so many people. What a great event to look forward to.

My weekend

was awesome.

Thursday

Friday

Saturday