Letters From Suburbia

I don’t mean prior to selecting one. I’m referring to after you’ve graduated. With everyone graduating soon, it reminds me of my own school. I’ve visited my alma mater several times in the past four years, and every year, it’s a little bit different of a feeling.

Year one–I think I visited three times that year because two of my best friends were still there (my old roomates) and I still knew a ton of people there, more than in my new adopted pennsylvania home. The first year after, you still feel like you go there–it’s almost like your first weekend back after a summer or winter break. I had places to stay, I had things to do, and while I didn’t feel like a ‘resident,’ it was still kind of a home.

Year two–Those two friends graduated, but I think I still visited twice because I had other friends I wanted to see, and one of my old roomates was nearby. Now, it was a little different, though. Because I had been away long enough where it wasn’t really much of a home, it was more like going away for a weekend to visit friends. And, at this point, I was in the ‘real world’ and hating it, so any memory of a simpler time was a nice distraction.

Year three–Even less people I knew around, more just needing to be reminded of when my life wasn’t so goddamn complicated. I believe I only visited once that year, but it was a very sentimental trip, because at this point, you’re far removed enough where you look at EVERYTHING that happened back then with rose-colored glasses, and everything was perfect, but now you’re in a shitty job and you’re broke and none of your relationships are as good as they were back then, even though all your friends and moments back then had flaws. You forget about that in the real world.

Year four–The weird feeling that not a single person on this campus, save a few stragglers, which at a private school there aren’t many, was there when you attended. The freshmen when you were a senior are now gone, and you realize that this is the class of 2011, which just makes you feel old. I went once this year, to visit old professors and visit my friend nearby, and it was even weirder, because this kids just look so…young. I mean, college kids didn’t look that young four years ago, did they? Couldn’t have. Wow, there’s a new building, and suddenly there’s a Wal-Mart downtown (Yes, both those things are true). So bizarre….But now it starts to feel more like a childhood home than a place you actually lived…when you visit once or twice a year for four years, you start to remember the visits more than the actual time you spent there…so sleeping there is a distant memory. I don’t even think I remember that anymore.

So even without the people, I still love to visit, for several reasons. One, when the weather is nice, it’s a beautiful area. Downtown is gorgeous, the campus is impeccable, and I love the food, the little shops of a hippie town…Two, the drive isn’t stressful. Under four hours on beautiful country roads, and a hotel that is pretty cheap, makes it seem like an easy two-day trek. And three, what can I say, I’m horribly nostalgic. Especially when I’m sick of my job, my town and the 9-5 life. I love remembering when things were simpler. And I like going up there once or twice a year to see that all again. Even if it is different every year.