Last weekend I went back to Radford for the first time since I graduated. It was a bittersweet trip. It was great to see everyone and revisit the places that I'd spent four years of my life and where I really grew into the person that I am today. But it was also pretty sad because everything (and yet nothing) had changed. It was in the same places that I'd been so often and yet was in such a completely different place. It was weird to walk through Dalton with no intention of going to Freshens (oh, wait it's not Freshens anymore), or go to Heth with no intention of going to a club meeting, or cut through the Bonnie with no intention of going bowling, seeing a movie or doing any of the things I used to do on a regular basis. It's so funny how the place hasn't really changed at all, but I've changed so much.
It made me really think about what made Radford so wonderful. Yes, it's a beautiful campus, has a friendly community and a relaxed, peaceful feeling. But that's not why I have such fond memories. It's the people! The people that I met there are what made it such a great place to grow and learn. That really got me thinking about the way I treated people in the past. Shawna and I were best friends throughout sophomore and junior year and then really changed senior year. I was mad about stupid things that seem so inconsequential now. So, I texted her to apologize. I feel like it's a waste of time to be mad. And I'm so glad I did. I really forgot how great she is. She's sassy, country and really funny! We text back and forth and I can actually picture her saying all her classic lines, "Child you ain't got a lick of sense!" It's great to have her back in my life. She was always there for me when I was upset and needed a shoulder to cry on. That's more important than any petty quarrels or differences.
That also brought up other people and memories. I tried to fight it, but it made me think about Brian. Driving by his old apartment where I spent so many nights watching 24 and cuddling in bed, sitting by the river where we had a Chinese food picnic and walking through campus where we had classes together was really weird. It made me want to text him and just see how he's doing. I wondered if he ever thinks of me. It was the perfect time to have Shawna back in my life. She said that it's just being back in Radford that brought up all these memories. I wasn't convinced.
I was driving back to the Richmond airport and Antonio texted me. He wanted to know which airport I was flying into because he wanted to pick me up. I told him that it was sweet, but that it would be inconvenient and that he didn't have to. He texted me back and said, "But I WANT to, so give me your flight number when you can". It was the light instantly switched on. What was I thinking? I texted Shawna that I needed that she was right and that I needed to bitch slap myself. She said that it was just a crazy trip down memory lane. I was in Radford and missing the guy who LEFT me at the airport because he was too scared to just say what he wanted. And I'm lucky enough to have a guy who WANTS to be there just because he missed me. I got off the plane and he was sitting there waiting for me. It was such an amazing feeling! I kissed him and put my arm around him and told him about my trip as we waited for my bag. As we drove back into Manhattan and passed the glitzy buildings and people on the street, I realized that I'm exactly where I should be. I love Radford and it's slow pace and relaxing atmosphere, but it's not for me anymore. I went back to where I used to be and forgot where I am now. And I am so much happier now :-)
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