Marge was my life saver during college. I was missing home, my parents, my friends, my at-the-time boyfriend, and basically the all-around life I was comfortable with. So many things had changed in over the course of one summer: I graduated high school, I packed up my life, I moved to Salt Lake, I started college. Marge represented the promise of a big smile, a contagious laugh, a shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen, and security in a non-judgemental friendship. I honestly believe there are certain people you meet in life at certain times for one specific reason: you need them. I needed Marge, more than I even realized at that time, but I'm able to look back now and understand just how important it was that she entered my life during that difficult time.
During our many crazy nights in the co-ed dorms where we lived, we ended up hanging out in the lobby with the guys. Marge and I seemed to gravitate more to them than the girls. To be honest, we had some really fun and down to earth guys living on our floor, while the girls seemed to be more up tight, prissy, and mostly consumed with impressing the guys. Marge and I weren't like those girls. We were comfortable in our own skin and could have a good time just being ourselves. Looking back now, I think the guys appreciated that and felt more comfortable hanging out with us than the other girls. Marge and I ended up developing some really great friendships with a lot of them, too.
One of the many crazy things we liked to do was record ourselves being silly. I had a hand held tape recorder at the time, that I used to record lectures in my more difficult classes so that if I wasn't able to take notes fast enough or missed something in lecture, I had it captured on tape... That was the main purpose of me having the tape recorder, but really it became more of a means of entertainment for Marge and I. We recorded everything. Every stupid little hang out session, conversation, laugh, etc... Don't ask me why, it was just something we did.
Tonight when she came down to visit me, she brought a tape of one of our "poetry sessions" with her. Let me explain...We used to do random poetry readings in southern accents. These were spontaneous readings if you will, and usually were created based on the name and character of someone living on our floor. For example, my college roommate's name was Loraine, so a poetry reading might go something like this:
Loraine,
She lived in Maine
She's not very plain
She's kinda of insane
But we love her all the same
Loraine.
Creative eh? LOL (you are probably rolling your eyes this very second, but trust me, our poetry readings were a combination of late nights, being silly, and trying to save ourselves from the day in and day out homework routine). Hey, it kept us entertained.
Anyway, back to the point. Tonight Marge came over with one of these tapes. Lucky for her, my Audi has a tape player in it so Marge, our friend Dave, KeeLee and I all climbed into the car and listened to the tape.
We laughed and laughed and laughed. And it brought back great memories for me. Memories of how fun those difficult college days were. Memories of how silly we could be and yet have a wonderful time. Memories of how important those college days were in helping to shape the person I have become.
If you ever have the opportunity to go back in time be it through a recording, a picture, a year book or a phone call to an old friend, DO IT. It's like chicken soup for the soul, and you might just find a little piece of you that you didn't even know was missing.
Thanks Marge! Thanks for the crazy nights then, and the one we had tonight. I enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed those spontaneous "poetry readings" in "noon-a-maker" with the "beater stick" and thanks for being the wonderful friend that you are! Love you :)
ok seriously, nicest thing anyone has ever said to me (thank you for taking the time to say it - often times we think people know how we feel about them when in actuality they really don't until we tell them, and usually we wait until it's too late to tell them). I had no idea I was so awesome! your hubby should be home now - enjoy!
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