Pieces of pure happiness
There has always been something so comforting about the end of school to me. I remember the excitement that I would feel in elementary school when getting off the bus after the last day of school. I'd be so giddy with energy. At the time, the summer months were filled with going to camps, spending more time with my parents and going to the beach. On the dry afternoons, my brother and I would run barefoot in our bathing suits to my neighbours house. We would cut through the hole in the fence and dive right into the pool. At my grandma's cottage, my dad would make a fire and my grandma would bring out ingredients to make s'mores. The hot months were inherently made to connect with your loved ones and your surroundings.
I still miss getting off the bus at home after the last day of school. I miss running to see my mom and her giving me a big hug. When I finished school this year, I wish I could've done that. Instead, I finished my last exam on a Thursday night at 10p.m. in the library. After, my friend and I looked at each other and she said "Well, we just finished second year." Of course it was great that she had brought us those rainbow gummy strips and my tongue hurt from the sourness, but I wished I was able to celebrate my last day in the same way that I did forever ago. I called my mom on my walk home.
Overall, I feel like the winter term finished well. I have talked with friends who have agreed that the second term always feels like a trek as classes seem to drag on longer though the days are much shorter. I continued to write at the Fulcrum, volunteer with IPPSSA and crawl to my 7-10 class. Dhanya, Gracie and I still walked through the park on the way to Happy Goat. Sophie and I always met at the law library and I tried to call my family often. I love the winter term because it gives you the chance to meet more people and friendships to blossom. It's a second chance to fit in the missing pieces.
Madi's windows
Abby Ferg and I went to Queens to visit Madi
I went home for reading week and Easter with Abby G and saw everyone at home
Sophie and I saw Noah Kahan
My mom and I got matching tattoos together
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In April, I still felt that restless feeling when I got off the school bus, just in different ways. The next morning after my last exam, my attention and efforts turned to packing up our old place. Gracie, Dhanya and I moved out of our old building and into our new apartment with Sophie! We're still in the same area but the change has made such a difference. The ceilings are so high and there is so much more space. The tall windows let in so much light and it feels so bright! The move out itself went really well and we were lucky to have lots of help from friends and family. My parents came to visit and help out. I was so happy to have them here and to be able to spend time with them. After the first week of moving in, we spent forever decorating our rooms, the living room and every piece of the new space.
The new view from my bedroom window
The view from our living room
I ended up going home over the May 2-4 long weekend and I was so happy to see how green everything was. Lily and I talked about this when she picked me up and we went for our long drive through Guelph, Fergus and Elora. We both agreed that we would have to live together someday and the conversation stretched to where that would be. It would not be in the city, which surprised me that she said that. I said that I want to live my 20's in a city and then later in life, I would like space, enough to have a garden in a quiet backyard. I was shocked that she strongly felt the same. I was not surprised when we said that being home for the summer is so special.
This is the first summer that I have not been home. I'm very lucky that I love our new apartment and am able to spend lots of time with my roommates. There are new places that I have learned to love and it feels like my space now. But, on the days where the park doesn't feel big enough, I miss the vastness of home. There are days where I want to go for a drive with the windows down and jump in the swimming hole in Elora. I want to drive to the South and walk to the beach at the cottage. The sunsets are so vibrant and I always sleep the best there, tired from the sun and walking. I want to eat a peach in the kitchen of the cottage. The weekend where my hometown friends and I go on our annual trip up to Charlee's grandparent's cottage in the South can't come fast enough.
Madi and I walked to Bissell Park and then ate donuts with lemonade from Getty's instead of a cinnamon twist (they were out)
Heidi, Alyssa, Madi, Claire and I went to the Salem park for the afternoon
Since, I've started work at my new part time jobs and things have been going well (I'm trying to find wood to knock on after writing that one). We have become friends with our upstairs neighbours after they sent us a letter with a dish of the most gooey chocolate chip cookies to ever exist. It was such a sweet gesture! We sent them back brownies with a letter full of affection and we have hung out with them a few times since! The roomies and I have been spending lots of time at Major's Hill and listening to music under the hot sun. I missed feeling warm under the sun for MONTHS! We're finally here! Dhanya and I went to a DJ set at the park and it was the most fun yet hilarious thing EVER.
Moment in the park
My mom visited and we had a picnic
Dhanya and I at the Chinatown market
Summer plans have been made and I will be waiting until then. Home town friends are visiting soon and then we go on our trip to the South in mid-July. I might go to a family friend's cottage and then I'll go home at the end of the summer. It feels weird to be thinking that far in advance. I'm trying not to think too much about things that far away; it's just a floating idea. These new plans have become my 'bus moment'. Once they arrive, I will feel giddy and embody a rush of excitement. Small things to appreciate
Even if the moments change, as EVERYTHING does, it's essential to have those pieces of pure happiness. Even if you're not in elementary school anymore.
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