Twenty

When I turned twenty, I was a sophomore in college at UW Madison. I had just discovered that I really did like where I went to school. That year I lived in Slichter Hall and I met many of the people I still associate most with my time in college- too many to name. How great it was to wander down the hall to hang out, or in DrMI's case, just across the street! I remember many a fun times on the way to the gym with the gym buddies: EM and SK, or on the way to Frank's Place where I most often chose to eat Chili and white rice. I also remember a lot of tennis matches and hanging out with SMB. Thinking about the zillion trips down the lake shore path to either the union or Picnic Point makes me remember how the lake smelled on warm fall or spring evenings. My best memory is evening swimming in Lake Mendota with all of the girls by Kronsage.

I remember studying thousands of hours at the Agricultural Library and thousands of trips up the Liz Water's hill on my way to class. That year I was taking so many history classes. I was always on my computer writing another paper. That was the year I took Cohen's writing intensive American History seminar. It is amazing all the work I did for that class that I now DON'T REMEMBER.

That year was also the heart break of my young life. I broke up with my first real love: JLE, and then regretted it for the next two years. At the time I thought he wasn't as focused on academics as I was and that he was still a little too wigged out that I had left for such a huge university- what did that say about him? I think the long-distance thing got to me. I remember the weekend he came to visit and when it happened. All though I now know it was the right thing to have done, it still makes me all stressed out. I had so much left to learn and I made so many mistakes. The only thing I can say now, is the number of tears I shed over that kid should have amounted to more than it did. Three years ago I ran into him at the local Blockbuster. I hadn't realized he was married and living a few miles from me. I was strangely relieved he had found someone to live a quiet life with in the suburbs. Maybe there was some of that intuition when I broke up with him?

That summer I worked at a garden store, mostly watering plants and selling plants. And of course pining day after day for JLE. That was a horrible summer is all I have to say. Although the high points were EKM and I backpacking the Superior Hiking Trail, going out west with the fam, and our new puppy Sophie. Over, thought I was disenchanted with the high school friends who had been so close previously. I remember being relieved to be returning to school even though sad to leave my family. I hated the distance and missed them terribly, especially since all of my siblings were so young and growing up without me there.

That fall I moved into the West Washington apartment with the girls. It was a debacle at times (see downstairs neighbors and the bedroom debate) but also so much fun (see blue wrestling mat, parties, and TV meetings). That is when I met GL, who proceeded to be my boyfriend for the next two years. He and I were never soul mates, looking back I think we just liked hanging out together. He was the cover for still being obsessed with my previous boyfriend, I think. What a nice guy. I remember trips to Milwaukee to see the BoDeans play, girls nights, runs down State Street, and evenings on the Terrace. I also remember running down the block to take solace in DrMI at times. Living with three girls in a small apartment was tough as well as dating someone I wasn't all that into.

Other random memories: puking on the back porch, hot, hot days, mom helping me move in, the white car, running to Lake Monona, SMB's house south of Regent, 1945 history class, "Virtual Insanity", "Mo' Money, Mo' Problems", KRS1, and many more.