Feeling nostalgic...
Nostalgia’s an interesting thing
Tequila helps a lot
So do 5 year old audio recordings from college…
I can’t believe it’s been that long

So much has changed
I’ve come a long way
And throughout all of that change…
I’ve just wanted to get away from the past
At fucking last
Right?
Like it was all damage to heal
Because there was a lot of that
Stress, fear, stupid decisions, squatters…

But there was also a lot of good
A lot of good I had forgotten
Specifically college
I forgot how awesome it actually was
How cool the people were
Both the students and the teachers
How chill the school was
How much weed I got away with smoking in the parking lot
Not to mention how much I learned
About design, web, type…
About presenting work and human interaction…

But also...
How much fun I actually had
The camaraderie I felt
It was like I was a part of something
And I was
I actually was
I was part of this group of really cool humans

I almost felt like I belonged
Almost
Even when I didn’t…
Even when shit got a little crazy…
I was actually a part of something

Today I listened to a couple recordings from that time
From “back then”
Practice runs of our portfolio presentations
One of mine, one of a really unique human named Jay
All courtesy of Marco
Who is still the best
And had the thought to record it

I don’t know what made me find these recordings
I just got a wild hair to listen to some timeless Jay wisdom
Hadn’t listened to it in years
And not only did I get a fucking kick out of it
And Rob’s critiques
But the recording kept going on after
During the break
When we were all just chilling
Ray was asking Marco something about his navigation
Lauren was telling me about Parks and Recreation
Rob was being Rob
And it was all so chill
So comfortable...
So human
The human experience
In a computer lab
On the second floor of a commercial office building
Off of Gateway Park Drive

And then I listened to my own presentation
Again, courtesy of Marco
And it was just a trip
Because even through anxiety and awkwardness...
I’m so awesome
Seriously
I fucking am!
Even then
People got a kick out of me
People still get a kick out of me!
Even more of a kick now probably
Not always of course, because I’ve done some stupid shit…
But for the most part
And in that moment
People liked me
And I liked them
And it was so cool

So my 20s!
My web degree!
My failed relationships, pharmaceutically impaired brain, and $40,000 in student loans…
Not a decade to forget!
There was some amazing shit that went down
Some real gold
Golden moments
Golden people
Not showers though
Why does my mind always end up in the gutter

Seriously though
Today was a wake up call
I don’t want to throw the baby out with the bath water, as they say
Odd expression for sure
But that kind of concept
I don’t want to forget the good times
Because I had some really good times
And I’m glad I remembered that today

So yay for nostalgia
For belonging
And for every awesome person from that time…

Bless you all
Then and now
Even if now you think I’m a little crazy
I was crazier then
Trust me 😉