I'm heading off to my last class of the semester, my last class of the year, and my last class of High School. It's strange how little this fact has affected me; I don't feel any different, other than an anticipation of summer and all the things planned during it. It seems like I should feel sad, or happy, or ... something. But it's just like any other Friday morning. Physics is up next, then work after that.
I say a recent picture of an old girlfriend of mine today. It's a strange feeling to see her after so many years. It's been at least five years since I last saw her, and I can't believe how sad and envious I get when I see her.
A little back story: my father, a professor at a local university, took a sabbatical 6 years ago, and we went to Madison, Wisconsin for a year. That's about it, and I'm sure you can imagine what happened. I found new friends, then had to leave them again when I went back to Minnesota. I still keep in touch with a couple, but it's fallen off recently and I haven't heard from any of them in a couple months.
We've changed so much in 5 short years. I'm 17 now, and not afraid of life. When I was 12, before going to Madison, I was a sad, sad person. It's funny, how a change like that can change a person's life so much. My year there was a catalyst for the rest of my life. Because of that one short year, I am so much more than I ever could have been otherwise.
And so, on the end of the beginning, and the beginning of the end, I have only this to say:
I hold it true, whate'er befall;
I feel it when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.
