I think I've mentioned that my classes this semester were split between online and on campus classes. I had a 3 hour block twice a week and then my online classes just whenever I had the time. This might come as a shock, but I have been known to speak out and contribute...exuberantly...in discussions. Even though I have a bunch of other things going on, I usually read the material to actually comprehend it instead of just skimming it...unless it's long or boring. I keep it real. Anyway, in my local history class, I sat in the middle of the room and am known to everyone as "Aubrey, Not Elizabeth" because my professor was POSITIVE my name was Elizabeth. I'm taking her class online next semester, and as she hugged me goodbye on Tuesday, she said, "I can't wait for Aubrey, Not Elizabeth to ride again!" People like me...they really like me!
Y'all, she was honestly the sweetest professor I've had. She sent out an email just before Thanksgiving to remind those in our class who weren't able to spend time with their loved ones for Thanksgiving that it was, "...just a day. Talk to your loved ones, do something for yourself, relax and unwind, but just remember...it's ONE day, and you are amazing and wonderful and blessed." At our last meeting on Tuesday, she gave everyone personalized Christmas cards and said, "Y'all, please keep in touch. You're an amazing class, and I really do care about y'all. A lot." She asked each of us how our holiday was and what we did, and her eyes got all watery when I mentioned my dad, which did TONS for me keeping it together. She emailed me yesterday to ask how he was doing, and again today. She is a rarity, and I'm so glad I get to learn from her again next semester, even if it IS just in an online forum.
In my world lit class, I sit near the window because...yes. There's a group of 4 of us who always group up and banter back and forth. That class is very divided, but I've gotten to know a few of the "others" from talking to them out in the hall before class. One of the girls in the class and I have gotten very chatty over the last few weeks, so we discussed our holidays and cheesecake and papers and grades and life. Today, she sat down across from me with watery eyes and told me that her boyfriend, her "person" had dumped her at 2 a.m., and then used a Talladega Nights quote to relieve the tension when she was angry, that ultimately made her laugh, but then made her even more mad. She called him an "adorable asshole," and then I knew exactly what she meant.
I don't have one of those, but I do have an "adorable idiot" who bounces in and out of my life on occasion. In fact, I attempted to make her feel better by telling the story of how we met and the ridiculousness that stemmed from it, and at the end, she was all starry-eyed as she said, "Wow! That gives me so much hope!" Wait, what? Later, I heard from her and she asked which idiot I wound up with, to which I had to reply, "Neither." Her reply? "Well...that makes me suicidal. It was such a good story!" I told him about it this afternoon, after a random text to make sure I was still breathing/pining away for him (insert eye roll here), and he was happy to be a cautionary tale. If he lived closer I would've driven to his house and smacked him upside his head. I swear that would be it.
It is amazing to me how someone can disappear from your life for EVER and then reappear and become one of the people you come to rely on the most...the person I wanted to text at least a hundred times over the last 10 days or so to say "I need you" but deleting it over and over again because it wouldn't matter. We each have our own "stuff" going on and aren't able to be readily available for each other, but that doesn't stop us from trying to do the best we can.
At least ONE of us anyway. Life and love and friendships and complications are weird. And frustrating. And...yeah.
Aubs
No comments:
Post a Comment