Movin on Up (to the East Side)

This is strange. I'm having this really odd, full circle type of moment, as I sit on M's couch after hauling my two overstuffed suitcases, and a taxi-full of stuff I've collected over the summer up the stairs to her apartment. I cannot believe it's been two months. It has zoomed by, and yet in some ways it feels like I've lived here forever. The friendships and the memories I've made up here have absolutely been ones that are more than mere summertime laughs and hugs. And this week has been just as chock-full of them as the rest of the summer has. After my wonderful Monday night, my Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursdays continued on in the same amazing manner. Tuesday night, (like I said before) thanks to O's wonderful connections I got to be third row to the live filming for Fuse of Maroon 5, and my fifteen-year-old self was melting as Adam Levine serenaded "She Will be Loved" to the sold out crowd. And the greatest part of it was that even though Maroon 5 may be cheesy and so middle schoolish, O and I were dancing up a storm in our seats because they are awesome performers and know how to woo an audience, and in the words of O, "Hell, it's live music!" Then I headed back to the dorm and then back out I went to Wicked Willy's with K, J, H, and J for karaoke. Yes, I said karaoke, now please stop laughing. We all were terrible as we sang (ironic) "This Love" and it was amazing and fun and ended the night perfectly as we raced each other across Washington Square Park, laughing from the arch to the dorm. After another night of chatting and me crashing on the couches in the lounge it was work and luncheon with H.R. (very helpful), and then back to the dorm and to dinner with the roommates. Since R left today it was our last night together as the roomies and we did dinner at Piola then hung around just talking about the summer and next year and all. It was a good final night, very cool and casual and fun, without being sappy or ovely emotional (things I can't handle). We all left with promises to visit each other, and promises to meet up in New York again one day.

Then there was last night.

My last night in the dorms. After a longish but funnish day at work filled with random outings, and cotten candy eating I headed back to the dorm to pack till after multiple text messages from friends I abandoned the packing for a couple of games of pool on the second floor and then dinner at Weinstein. Then a quick outfit change and a bit of packing later we all congregated to J's room for music and hanging before heading out to the west side for some awesome music and dancing. It was everybody (skrew letters, it's the end of my time here and this blog isn't just about me anymore- I've made too many friendships and relationships for this thing to revolve around me- I apologize if it annoyed anyone while I was writing the blog, but there were reasons for it). Kareem, Jurgen, Rachel, Jordyn, Kris, Scott, Alex, Liz, Kelsie, Adrien, other Alex, Ryan, Allykon (sp?) all came out and then after random street singing on our way back to the subway (scottie doesn't know, anyone?) and my half busted lip later (Jurgen's elbow doesn't know where to go when he's hugging) we headed to dollar pizza for a late night snack and then back to the dorm for more late night chatting and my last night was spent on the second floor lounge surrounded by friends and swiped vending machine cokes (oh those kids) and I fell asleep in the middle of all of their talking about life and the summer and Jersey shore.

This morning was relaxed and cool with a trip to the spa (a nice little present from Mom) then I bumped into Kareem and had lunch with him (my final!) at Kimmel. It was so different from the first lunch there, when I sat alone looking out onto Washington Square Park wondering who I would meet this summer. The walk back was filled with random bumping intos (Ryan, Jake, and Jessica) and like I said, it was just so full circle, as I walked past some Cameron Diaz movie being filmed across the street and back into the dorm to finish my packing.

One awful taxi ride and two flights of stairs later, hear again I sit on Margaret's couch reveling over this city and its people and the impact its had on my life and my self.

But now its time for me to get a bit settled in for my last week. There's movies with Sarah tonight and possible meetings up with the Rubin crew later, then talks of a trip to Brooklyn or the beach are in the works for the weekend and I have the Awesome 80's Prom with Margaret and Emily tomorrow night. So basically it's looking to be a good weekend, and a good last week.

Love to all- especially my dorm buddies, who knows maybe I'll just come back and crash one night this week!

-Mandy

P.S. Sorry for how sporadic posts have been lately, if you can't tell been a little busy, but no worries for those who read the blog you'll be updated on this, the final week.