It’s no secret that Bobcats are obsessed with Ohio University and Athens in general. For some people, summer means spending time with your family and taking a break from school. However, for OU students, summer means missing hOUme. All Bobcats experience a couple things when they’ve been away from Athens for too long.
1. Your TBTs have increased.
Since not much is going on this summer, you post former pictures of you at events that are more exciting than your cousin's first birthday party. When Thursday arrives, you post a picture taken earlier this year with a caption about how you can’t wait to be back at OU. Miss Thursday? That’s alright, there’s always Missing OU Monday, Why Ohio Wednesday and Flashback Friday. Maybe some of those were made up, so just feel free to post whenever. No shame in throwbacks that were taken just a couple of months ago, we're all guilty of it.
2. You're starting to buy everything in green and white.
Even stuff that isn’t OU apparel is starting to follow the color scheme. Maybe you're starting to like the colors or maybe your subconscious (or actual conscious) is missing your favorite university so it likes apparel that reminds you of it. Anyway, you look great in green and white, why not stock your closet in it?
3. As annoying as school emails are, you love receiving them.
Housing emails you an abnormal amount during the summer, but you don't mind that much. Living in a dorm means college. College means you’ll be back to OU. If other people are already planning for move-in day, that means it’s getting closer.
4. You talk about school every chance you get.
“How was your freshman year?”
“It was amazing…” *Praises OU for about 10 minutes straight.*
“How’s your summer going?”
“It’s OK, but I want to be back at school” *Goes on 10-minute rant about missing OU.*
*Silence*
“I have a funny story, this one time at OU ...” *Tells a 10-minute story the person you're having a conversation with won’t even understand because he/she doesn't go to OU.*
5. You're starting to miss the hills.
Not entirely because it’s really hard to want to walk up Jeff or Morton, but hey at least it was exercise, and it meant you were a mere five minutes from Court Street. Which reminds me ...
6. Court Street is the only thing on your mind.
Of course you miss going out, but there’s a lot more to Court Street than just the [great] bars. You miss the food: Goodfellas, Chicken & Waffles, Big Mama's, the list goes on. You miss the beautiful brick roads. You miss the multiple bookstores where you bought OU apparel to stock your closet with (see No. 2). You'd happily take a few slips on those icy sidewalks mid-winter if it meant you'd be back at OU sooner.
7. You're living through posts of people who stayed in Athens for the summer.
As you casually scroll through social media you stop and sigh when you realize your friends are in Athens. You usually take a second to think about how much you miss OU and then pass the picture without liking it because you’re jealous. The FOMO is real.
8. You've texted friends either reliving old memories or planning for when you get back.
If you aren't already planning for the first night back in Athens, you like to reminisce about the past. Is it August yet?
Update: Yes, it is August.
There’s a quote (that’s mostly used as an Instagram caption for parting friends) that says, “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” Although the four months at home are hard for us, we’re all lucky to go to a school which makes us dread breaks. Hold on Bobcats, there are only a couple days before we’re reunited with our true love: Ohio University.
