It sure it hard to say good-bye to so many people you love in such a short amount of time without knowing when they’ll see them again. Well, it’s not really that I won’t see them again – I probably will relatively soon. The part that bothers me is that I know it will never be the SAME again.

Two and a half years ago, I was somehow lucky enough to fall into the best group of friends I could have ever imagined. Since then, we’ve even managed to gain a couple more outstanding individuals to hike up our coolness factor. Over the past few days, I’ve had to give my finals hugs and try to maintain my composure as I bid farewell to these wonderful people, all of whom have changed me in their own special way. (Yeah, it’s vomit-inducingly sappy, deal with it.) Saying good-bye wasn’t hard. Knowing I won't be going back to them next month is what’s killing me.

I’ve come to think of these folks as my other family, which is basically what they are. They’ve always been there to support me when I’m freaking out about, well, all the pointless stuff I freak out about. They always manage to cheer me up (most of the time without trying) when the seemingly endless cases of PMS pop up month after month. It wrenches my insides to know I’ll never again live with three unique but totally awesome (like, oh my God! So totally awesome!) gals who know all the gruesome details of my life.

I’ll miss the companionship. I’ll miss having some of my favorite people being only a phone call away from visiting, if not in the next room over. I’ll miss the singing…and the dancing…and the drinking. (Those last three always seem to be inter-related.) I’ll miss having people hug me for no reason. Why do we need a reason to hug anyway?! I love hugs, but I wasn’t brought up in a hugging family so there’s a distinct lack of embraces when I’m at home.

I’ll miss Rachel putting random stuff on her head and Nicole streaking by my room and Cassi paintbrushing her cute little ass all over the apartment. I’ll miss Chelsea’s baking and rubbing Brian’s head and talking with Kelly about anything and everything. I’ll continue to miss watching perseverant little Alexis unicycle down the halls of Goldfine C and the sound of Aurora’s uplifting laugh. But most of all, I’ll miss the way I feel when I’m around these people.

The fact of the matter is that Tower sucks and I miss everyone so much that I have unexpected crying jags despite having only left Duluth yesterday. It really IS like having permanent PMS. HOW THE HELL IS A GIRL SUPPOSED TO DEAL WITH PMS PERMEATING EVERY FACET OF HER LIFE?!

I never thought I’d create such great relationships in college, but I sure am thankful I did. I don’t know how many of you guys read this, but thanks for some of the greatest memories of my life.