It's been a year, a year of living, laughing, and loving. A year of wearying struggles but worthwhile memories. A year since I last saw any of my closest friends from Cosmos '08.
Last weekend, I had the lucky opportunity that many can't say they've savored themselves: to see one of my closest friends from science camp, summer '08. When I left behind my friends that weekend in the Davis summer heat, despite promises to see each other again, I knew bitterly that our individual schedules would rarely find perfect time for a cohesive reunion. But hey, nearly one year later, I found myself hugging and jogging down the crowded, smoggy streets of San Francisco with Jasmine Leyro.
Unfortunately, our friend Nate couldn't make it to our little meeting to catch up, but sitting, talking, sipping on a Jamba Mango-a-Go-Go seemed to wholly complete one of my last few summer days. As we sat there at a plastic table in a fast food restaurant, hearing the cashier take orders in the loud bustle of the open kitchen, I suddenly realized something. For the first time in over a year, I wasn't busy putting together a project, writing up a paper in the wee hours of the morning, or musing over a voluminous novel. I was sitting still, watching all the business happen around me. For the first time in a long while, I was the listener. Listening to the chit-chat of a mother and her 5-year old at the table next to us. Listening to the life stories of Jasmine as she smiled with a scintillating glow. Listening carefully to my own thoughts, something I didn't do too often. Not only did I get to see and to talk to my close, dear friend, but also, did I get to hear and to listen to myself.
So, thank you.
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