One of those weekends...

So I graduated.

It’s really such an insane time. The week leading up to it is completely consumed with final exams and papers. I practically lived in the library, didn’t sleep, barely ate, and my existence was entirely academic. And then – boom! – I sent in my last exam and it was all over in an instant. Freedom! But there’s no chance for recovery, because I had to get a dress and a haircut for graduation, clean the house, and buy groceries to prepare for the family coming into town. Then I find myself at this dinner with all these giddy graduates, so relieved and awed to be done. And then drinks – drinks galore! – to celebrate, because what we did is sort of amazing after all.

Then it’s a day of leading parents and grandparents around the city and introducing them to my friends. And the next thing I knew I was marching around in polyester listening to everyone tell me how damn proud of me they were. It’s absurd, really.

After all the hoopla, I drove to Wolfeboro, New Hampshire to spend a few days with my family. It was gorgeous and restful and I slept in, ate incredible home-cooked meals, and read on the sunny back deck. Glory.

Now I’m back in the city, trying to find a job and convince myself that I’m not crazy for sticking around. I did have one of those weekends which makes me feel as though all is well in my world. Thursday night it was wine, cigarettes, and the season finale of Grey’s in Bushwick. Friday I sipped a smoothie while people watching in the park, and then had Pinkberry on Spring Street. Saturday we walked through Hell’s Kitchen for the International Food Festival: took a potty break in Port Authority, and picked up gyros on 9th Avenue. Then brought in the evening sitting on cool rocks in Central Park, sipping frappuccinos, smoking, and taking photos. After that I had (really good!) BBQ at Justin Timberlake’s restaurant on the Upper East Side. Then yesterday, it was back to work but the most gorgeous weather in the world made my lunch break in the park a joy. I was devouring my delicious apple, surrounded by all the other people with ID badges hanging from their belts, thinking “I do like my life here”.

Here’s to hoping that sentiment lasts.