My most lasting friendship was with a girl I’ve known since eighth grade. We met at a sleepover, where I applied her eye shadow (only I didn’t tell her it actually wasn’t eye shadow, but some craft store pigment I stole from my mother). She was nice and unpopular and bizarre like me.
We went from a pair of awkward junior high nerds to college dorm mates to adult friends. Like so many longtime friendships, we were left with nothing in common aside from a shared past. We are completely separate, unique humans. And when we see each other, whether it is days or months or years at a time, our conversation is both intimate and seamless.
Tumblr, you and I have grown apart, too. That’s fine. You fit me most in my early twenties, and our commonalities have since nearly evaporated. But I like revisiting you. I like seeing that there are still so many interesting people doing so many interesting things. Most of all, I like what we were and honor the time we spent. It’s nice to get together with old friends even if there isn’t much to say.
The other night, I went to get Indian food with one of my best friends. I wore what I first thought was a casual and trendy outfit, but later realized that I really just looked like a high school art teacher who loves Southwestern pottery. Proof.
Answer:
Well damn. You sure know how to make a girl feel welcome as she reunites with tumblr.
To thrive in a rust belt city means to make the most of small pleasures. You will have a local coffee place with friendly baristas. You will have a regular seat at your usual weekend place, where that same colorful character will serve you that same cheap drink. You will feel, at your core, a small but crucial part of a decaying but comforting neighborhood.
Your rent will be astoundingly cheap, and your apartment will probably be very old. You’ll use your money for indulgences that your major city friends only dream of. Frequent restaurant patronage, travel, weekly/daily/hourly coffee.
You’ll find your own small group of good friends. You’ll see your exes everywhere you go. You’ll make mistakes, but you’ll know how to mitigate them.
All in all, you’ll take comfort in what surrounds you. You’ll appreciate the empty buildings, monoliths of an era that was better, bigger, brighter. And maybe you’ll even experience that sad optimism in which you believe everything will someday be returned to that glory. Machines running. Industry churning. The Bills finally making it to the Super Bowl.
Maybe next year. I can feel it.
Gmail Tap ~ This is going to change the way we work with technology.
;)
Gmail, you win this April Fools Day.
(via tatmanblue)
Guess I just wanted to be kissed by a hot ghost.