While Small Towns Sleep:

Hey, Hungary!

     Have you ever had a magic moment? Mine was this morning. It began with a flop to the other side of the bed and the notification light from my phone beaming up at me.

     "If you are asleep, wake up.
     "If you are awake, watch the sunset."
     I'm sure my roommate, who had opted to sleep on the living room couch rather than put the effort in to return to her bed, thought I was absolutely crazy walking out of the apartment, still in full pajama get up, hair poking out at odd ends, at seven-twenty in the morning.
     But this command, given by my most dear and wonderful Cousin of Poetry, was one I couldn't help but obey. My bedroom window, thankfully, offered an altogether too limited view. I only realized this was a good thing as I stood in the middle of the sidewalk half-way behind my apartment complex with the whole panorama in front of me.
     I stood there for a long time, gathering strange looks from the seldom early-morning drivers going passed. I didn't care one jot. The sky was pink and orange and yellow with a brightening blue twinge. The chill  morning air was so crisp the birds' wings broke it as they flew by. I smiled. It had been far too long since last we'd said good morning like this.
     Now I'm curled up on the swivel chair at my old secretary-desk, surrounded by piles of books and blankets, listening to Israel Kamakawio'ole sing a mix of "Over the Rainbow" and "What a Wonderful World" on a loop.
     It really is a wonderful world.

Love, America.

The Strange World of Academia:

Hey, Hungary!

     So...my last post was rather a bit dramatic, don't ya think? I certainly think so. I guess that's what happens when you stay up too late and have an imagination as vivid as mine. Apparently the combination doesn't mix so well together. Huh.
     Therefore, I feel obligated to offer this public service announcement: College is actually not terrible. It's actually quite fun, once you get your studies done. My roommates are in fact hilarious. And amazing. And so talented. And I love them to bits. When one of them gets back from class or something, she always throws the door wide open and yells, "FAM! Fam, I'm home! I'm home fam, fam I'm home!" It's so grand, we all just have to join in until she's sure we all know that she's finally home. We really are just like a little family, Sunday dinners and everything.
      I think I've told you mostly all about my classes already, so we'll just suffice it to say they're going well. Yes, even Biology. But what I really love about this whole college arrangement is the window.  (I have to type it in italics like that so you get the tone of voice.)
     We live right at the top of the stairs of the complex, so everyone who lives on the second level has to walk passed our apartment before they can get to theirs. Every time someone passes, it's always, "Hi, 14", "What's up, 14", and, my personal favorite, "Captain America! Can we join?!"
       Apparently, things are going quite swimmingly. More later.

Love, America