Around the Horn

Alum? Pinch me now.  I still have two more finals to go, and a potentially pitiful grade from one of my Econ classes.

So, now what? I’ll be going home to LA to catch up on some sleep and family time.  I’ll be back in Ithaca from January through March, working and wrapping up some odds and ends.  And then it’s Europe for 2 weeks, Asia for 3.  I haven’t been on vacation in over four years, and it’ll be a deserving breather before Commencement in May and the real world (working in NYC) in July…

In my last week as a full-time college student, I’ve wandered around Memory Lane a little too long.  Blame it on the holiday season, where everyone turns into a lovey-dovey nostalgic sap.  I spent all of Black Friday sprawled on a couch watching “Family Man” and “Sleepless in Seattle”; what did you do?

All kidding aside, it hit me oh-so-slightly this past week that I am no longer sheltered from the cold blasts of the real world.  On the bright side, I won’t have to write any more papers or stress out about prelims and exams.  On the darker side…it’s just me now.  As a fully-autonomous adult, I won’t really have an excuse to party late into Thursday night and get away with having $45.07 in my checking account.

Most of all, I won’t stop hearing the dreaded “so how’s your love life?” question.  Yes, even after 21 years, I have yet to claim that I’ve been in a solid relationship.  After evaluating my lifetime drought, I can attribute my chronic singledom to the educational environment.  No, I’m not talking about my parents, as they were the most lax parents in high school (”Just try your best, honey” was all the encouragement I needed).  It’s the pressure to fend for yourself, to work towards a successful career.  In college, I really had no desire to settle down with anyone.  I’m an independent woman blazing my own trail; if you don’t like it, move on, because I won’t wait or change…I think this go-get-em’-ness has scared guys away.  I’m blunt, but I don’t fawn over guys.  I’ll be successful in my own right, and I don’t want to be anyone’s sugarmama.  However, I’m realizing more and more that companionship is important.  While I can support myself just fine, dinner is never fun when you’re eating alone.

Me: “I’m just having fears of a single me at 45 living on the Upper West Side with 20 cats that I’m allergic to.  That’s got to be the worst case scenario…right?”
My gay husband: “Yea but Upper West Side…I wouldn’t mind that.”
Me: “Shut up, you’re not helping.”

Cornell’s wrestling team had their kick off match against Penn State last Thursday.  I had never been to a wrestling match, so that was one reason to go.  However, I was mainly there to support two wrestlers: Jordan Leen, defending NCAA champ with a shock of red hair and a heart of gold, and Adam Frey, who was diagnosed with cancer back in March 2008.  This was Adam’s night: For every person in attendance at the match, outside sponsors donated $5 to Adam Frey.  I’ve known Adam since sophomore year, and he is just as dynamic and strong-willed as he’s ever been.  It’s been a rough ride, but Adam has overcome so much and it was wonderful to see him at the match.

I sat next to my friend Zak who wrestled back in high school and provided commentary throughout the match.  There was no way I was going to see past the back and forth lifting and grabbing.  Points are given for certain moves, which factor into the final team points. With Zak’s pearls of wisdom, I found that there is so much more strategy and technique in wrestling, and wrestlers need a killer combo of agility, strength, and quick reactions.  I would say that agility is valued more in the lighter weight classes–the guys looked like cats that were jumping swiping each other–rather than the heavier weight classes, which resembled a sumo match with a lot more finesse.
Cornell easily beat Penn State 24-10 and with over 4,000 in attendance, raised $20,000+ for Adam.