With winter break approaching, many of us are excited to be back home for a few weeks. The holidays, spending time with family and friends and a month to relax, travel, work and do whatever you so please are all amongst us. However, it’s also the time that some of our best friends are graduating. Things won’t be nearly the same without you here for the rest of the year, so I have compiled things I want to say to one of my best friends who is graduating this winter.

First off, thank you for being the friend I needed in my life. You have been there through the highs and lows of my college career, and one semester without you is one too many. You have been the person to keep my head on straight, while making sure I don’t take life too seriously. Through a bad relationship, you always checked in on me and were someone I could reach out to. We developed a friendship I will always be grateful for.

Not to call you out, but those who know who I’m talking about understand when I mention how freakin’ sweet it is we became next-door-neighbors back home. Not that Cave Creek (Scottsdale) is far, but the chances your family moved next door shortly after we became friends and went to college together are slim to none, but it happened. We have the weirdest bond because of those drunk (sorry, moms) Über rides home and night swims with friends and family, but it’s one I think most people appreciate.

Now, it’s not that I’m not proud of you for actually making it through college (admittedly, we have had some rough times). It’s just that things won’t be the same next semester. I didn’t think things could get better than the time we have had this semester, but I didn’t think you literally wouldn’t be here. But, it is what it is and like I said, it’s not like Cave Creek is even far. (Hint: I’ll be coming home to see you and the rest of the crew on long weekends).

We’ve had our last official weekend of the semester together, and I am still in awe at how quickly it arrived. Seems like yesterday we were tailgating the first football game with the “PPC.” (Sorry outside readers, inside joke). We’ve still got one more Dead Day Eve night to enjoy the “now,” but that will come and go in the blink of an eye. I’m glad I’ll have this time over break to make a few more memories together, but it’ll be over in no time, too. Hey, time flies when you’re having fun, right?

So, my life is still in shambles and I don’t know what’s going on after college and it scares the hell out of me, but at least I know I’ll have a friend back home if that’s where I end up (which would probably make my parents’ lives, and ruin my little brother’s), and you’ll still have a place to stay for your first Homecoming Weekend as an alum.

I’m probably over-staying my welcome with all of these inside jokes and semi-sentimental remarks, so I’ll leave it at this… Thank you so much for being an amazing friend to me through thick and thin. Thank you for making me loosen up when you know I need it, and for listening to me complain about Excel tables for hours while a movie is on. You’re the absolute best and I can’t wait to see where we will end up in the next couple of years.

P.S.

Can you believe the Cubs actually freakin' won?!