Falling Snowflakes, Falling Ties

[judecorp]

The nights are so long and so, so dark. The winter depression won't hit until after the holidays though, I'd imagine. There's always too much to do up until January that it's hard to be down - too busy being busy. The temperature is supposed to fall below freezing tonight according to Coworker Julie. Brrrr. Also, there are soft snowflakes dancing in the streetlights. Shoot me now.

I was thinking this evening about the circles I ran with in Columbus, and the people in them. I knew when we decided to move away that I would lose a bunch of friends. A lot of the people I hung around with were friends of convenience... they tended to be really low maintenance, the kind of people you could call and say, "Meet me here in 10 minutes," and if they were available, they would come. After A. and I broke up and I was a dating fool, I really had a good time with those kids, staying up late, being crazy, having a great time. It was like going to college all over again.

Many of us started to drift apart before we even decided to move, and I knew that once I left I would start to lose a lot of those connections. A lot of these friendships were based on physical presence and I wouldn't have that to offer anymore. I know that they are going strong without me even as I know the group has splintered a bit. I feel kind of out of touch, though - I'm sure they're out there living and having experiences and sharing feelings, and tonight, in the dark and cold, I wonder about them.

Tonight, as the heat kicks on for the umpteenth time, I think of Sean and Missy and Ryan and Bart and Jenny and Jared and Krusty and Saci and Brandie and Beth and Carlos and even Sarah Sarah. Love you guys.

The other bunch of folks were a bit older, more on the settled side of things - couple friends, family friends, people having kids. I think the settled end of things sets them up to be more likely to maintain ties and keep in touch. I feel closer to them, even with the distance. So Steve and Patti and Scott and Rebecca and Kyle and Carina and Scott and Peas and Sarah, I love you guys too. Lots.

Comments

[00solstice.livejournal.com]

love ya too, babe!

*smooch*

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Woah, a make-out session!

<3

[oxlahun.livejournal.com]

You can call me any time, and I will be there in 10 minutes*.

* plus several hours to get from Philly to Boston, and providing there are no other schedule conflicts.

Feh. Fine print.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I /hate/ fine print! Grrrrrr.

So when you finish school, is it one of those "move wherever I can get a faculty job" schticks, or will you be going back to western Mass?

[oxlahun.livejournal.com]

Yes.

When I finish classes, I am no longer tied to Philadelphia. The original plan was that this would be in June; this obviously may be revised. At that point academically, I can propose a thesis topic and, when it's sufficiently mangled to the faculty's liking, begin my research. Job-wise, I'll just need some money coming in, and will probably try for a part-time adjunct job somewhere in western New England. It's possible I can find a tenure-track spot when I'm still "ABD", but there's no guarantee. When I'm done-done-completely-done (sung to the tune of "Ding, Dong, the Witch Is Dead"), then I look for the permanent tenure-track job somewhere (and, as likely as not, take another non-track job until I can find it). It'll be a tricksy balance of where I can find jobs vs where I can convince Jen that we want to live for, say, 30 years. Blue states get priority.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

You see, The Boss and I have been going through our non-Boston options, and they have siginificantly changed after all of the election heyhoo. For example, Columbus and Portland are now Right Out. However, Northampton has remained in. So... who knows? Maybe someday we can be neighbors!!

[oxlahun.livejournal.com]

The apartment immediately below us is opening up. Of course, that's kind of sudden, and it's not nearly as cool as the one you have now, but between the four of us, we'd totally take over the building, then Easthampton, then the world! Bwahahahaha!

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Oooh, global domination. I like it.

[communista.livejournal.com]

I'm not on the list ;)

But I still love you and Jen very very much. And I miss you.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

You're not on the list because you weren't one of the people I ran with all the time, not because I didn't love you! I think I saw you like four times total in all the time I was there - you must have been a budding socialite! ;)

[prettyvacantone.livejournal.com]

I miss you. I always hope to catch you online, but you're usually hiding the few times you are on. :(

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Dude, I am /so/ never on AIM. I was on for a month to play online survivor, and then I promptly ran away again. I don't know why I'm so fearful of AIM, but I totally am.

Feh. I wish you had a million dollars so you could come visit and I could love all over you.

<3

[prettyvacantone.livejournal.com]

I wish I did tooooo! We should start a Bring Brandie to Jude fund.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

What a great idea! It would probably be pretty cheap when all the holidays are out of the way. Southwest goes from C-bus, right? You could scoot right into Providence if it was cheaper. Heck, if we find a good deal, we should totally go for it.

[sacharine.livejournal.com]

<3 <3 <3

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I think when you're finished going to school in Cincinnasty, you should move out here so I can love on you properly.

Besides, you still owe me a movie date from when we didn't go see Willard.

[oxlahun.livejournal.com]

Mittens ("Mitt") Romney's real first name is Willard. And he's kinda got the same hair as Crispin Glover. Hmmmmm.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I absolutely LOVE calling him "Mittens." It's the best thing I've stolen from you all year!

[oxlahun.livejournal.com]

I got it from humanbeatbox. Willard, however is my own discovery, from right about the same time as the movie. It's true. That really is his name. Willard Mitt[ens] Romney.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

That is the perfect name for him. Right down to the Mittens.

[thatpatti.livejournal.com]

*muah!*

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Yay! Messy Fisher kisses!

I love you too, hon...

[tandex.livejournal.com]

you should just come back... heh... we can go searching for scary chinese places that end up being cheesy and nice... /smile/... that would be a nice habit to begin...

Re: I love you too, hon...

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Oh honey, I just can't come back. I can't. We really thought about it, and we really, truly did consider it for /so many/ logical reasons, but we just don't feel like Columbus (well, Ohio) is a safe place for us to have a family.

However, I /do/ enjoy cheap chinese food, especially with you. That was really a fantastic time. Any hopes of you coming back this way for more work stuff? Also, when we visit C-bus again, we'll have to go to Little Dragons. YUM.

[wonderbreadwop.livejournal.com]

*mwah*

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

*makes out with you for old time's sake*

[gimmeapony.livejournal.com]

YOU SAW SNOW?
I was busily typing some stupid paper last night and I kept peering out the window, hopeful to see a few flakes, but no luck.
Amy needs her snooooooowwwwww!

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

You can have all my snow. I am not a fan.

[carina-s.livejournal.com]

You're my favorite!

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

LOVE!!