Lazy Saturday

As many of you know, a good portion of my adult, post-college life was spent alone. I lived alone in Milwaukee, not knowing anyone. I lived with my folks in Chicago for awhile without really reconnecting with any friends. Even in DC, I spent a lot of time at night and on the weekends, just being by myself. The thing is, I never really disliked this. It would have been easy to change and it's not like I didn't - or don't - have friends I could have easily spent time with. Used to be that I sort of relished the solitary life and, even when it wore on me, I always knew how to be by myself. I'm talking about real solitude - just you and your thoughts. The first weekend here I was a wreck and subsequently things got better, but even still, on some of the nights I have been at a loss for what to do once my reading was done. Had I forgotten how to be alone?

Nah.

This morning, I got up at 8 (having gotten in around 230a), had breakfast, chatted with Laura (my roommate at the Academy) and then, around 10a, went back to bed. Since re-awakening at 1145a, I have had some quality alone time. It seems that everyone from the Academy has vacated for the day and so this part of campus is very quiet. I sat on the bluff for an hour or so, reading The Federalist and staring blankly at the mountains. Then, after eight papers (more than enough for one sitting), I walked around campus and talked with my sister. I stopped at the campus store and the ATM and then I took my thoughts for a walk through the parts of campus I had not yet seen. It was nice to meander down paths with no real destination and mull over a variety of thoughts about my life, the content of this course, etc. And, as I made my way back to the apartment, I realized that I am still quite capable of being alone and enjoying it.

Now I'm excited to curl up in a chair (my back's bothering me so "curl" is probably not quite accurate) with skittles and diet pepsi and watch SWAT on my laptop (it was $5 at the bookstore - no more XMen 3). Then, perhaps I'll tackle the remaining three Federalist papers, before calling Brian, taking a shower and having dinner with Christine - a former SEED teacher who's out this way now. Should be good times.