Time Travel, At Best..

So this is kinda maybe gonna be a little sappier of a post. Idk if sappy is the word that I'm looking for. We'll figure it out as we go.

So essentially, I was going through some journals of mine, and I stumbled across the one that I was writing in when I started attending GLAA downstate. I noticed the date on it, because I always dated everything, because my mom hammered: "NAME AND DATE" into my head for every year of my life prior. I started writing in it six years ago (!) this Sunday. That's so long! It feels like yesterday.

It was kinda fun to read everything, and yet at times it was disheartening too. Saddening even to see how hard I was taking everything. I also learned that apparently I didn't consider my friend James (the best to ever do it) to be one of my buddies until like, day 10 I think it was? Kinda rude of me to not instantly have that connection honestly. Ten days that I'll never get back smh.

I'm gonna share one of the memories that I have written in the journal. And then probably a happy one to even out the mood. Not leave you guys in an emotional rut.

Literally the first day of classes that I had, my journal entry that night was heeeeaattedd. I'm gonna share whats in there and then what I know from my own memory. What wasn't included in the entry at that time.

So my first day had Bible class (something I found out was worth almost nothing in the larger education system, especially four years of it lol) and it started with a bang. A kid from my class named Silas (because of course it was) made some snide remark and I didn't take it well. Set me off on the wrong foot for the day. So I already felt like a dumbass. Very next class was Environmental Science, which is a fairly challenging class. Sat in the wrong seat. Was lost the entire class. Turned in a paper with almost nothing on it to Mr. Carter, who, while one of the few there to be a consistent positive role model in my life, is very intimidating, especially at that time. I almost cried. And then I went to the bathroom and actually cried. For a while. Skipped lunch because I was in my room, partially because I was crying again, partially because I didn't know anybody. Worked for three periods to try and forget and have a good time. Skipped supper. Sat in my room and cried and ate fruit snacks and other snacks that my family had set me up with.

And that was most of the first day :)

I remember writing though, and believing to my core, that I HAD to do it. I had to make it through. I couldn't break the tradition of siblings going to GLAA. I couldn't afford to not do well academically, because I was so worried about the expectations that I thought there were. I was so worried about making good memories that I forgot to actually make them at first. It sucked.

There were good memories eventually too. Most of the early memories happened at work. Each student, unless you were a faculty kid and had a offfice job essentially handed to you, would work in the cafeteria, or on the maintenance team, or in the legitimate factory next door like its the frickin 1800's. We got the hard jobs. But I enjoyed it.

I was on the maintenance team and got so much enjoyment from it. I made my best friends that way. Had the best laughs cruising around campus in the golf carts trying not to get caught doing donuts in the parking lots by Mr. Eskildsen. Hijacking other workers golf carts when ours didn't work right. Learning actually useful information about how to fix things. Doors, door handles, drawers, light fixtures, outlets, ductwork, you name it. I learned it.

I remember one specific time driving the carts with a few other students. I had a vacuum in the back of the cart that I believe we were hauling back to the maintenance building, and Kaleb (I think?) took wayyyyy too sharp of a turn and sent the vacuum flying.

And then also in the winter months when drifting was optimal, we'd have one guy driving while the other manned the passenger side, grabbing snow, making snowballs, and essentially Blue Shell-ing the other cart drivers.

So there were some good things that came out of it too.

Only another six months or so until I can go back. Maybe I'll try and make it to Homeshow. I just miss my classmates ('19) so much, and I can't think of any other event where they would probably be there. I mean Alumni of course but thats a whole nother year or more out. I ain't got that kind of patience.

Whether or not I keep in touch with any of you, I miss you.

Luke (x2), Logan, Samuel, James (of course), Kayla, Lindsey (x2), Jeremy, Mike, Andrei, Naomi, Elijah, Emmi, Elsie....

The list goes on.

Sorry that this got kinda sappy. Not the intention.

I have a potential job lined up assuming I can get this onboarding paperwork done before Tuesday! It's a Team Leader at Subway, which is like one step away from manager! I'm excited to have an income again haha. This chunk of time though has been nice to have. Getting to hang with all the barstaff I worked with. Getting to try new things. Making new friends and cutting loose some old ones. Necessary changes.

I'm excited for what my future holds. At least the immediate future. Start thinkin too far ahead and it gets scary.

I think thats all I got for tonight.

Peace muchachos.

-Dominic Romeo

21:03 PM CST

08/18/2023