Hemingway once said, “Write drunk, edit sober.” As I am a writer, I often find that this is easier said than done. Well, the editing part anyway. I think that this quote, as I sit here writing this with a splash of Jim in my Coke, applies to more than just my Odyssey articles. You see, I’ve been writing for this magazine for over three years now, and it seems like I’ve written about brotherhood from every possible angle and then some. So sometimes, memories of a great night or a break from one, can often help along the writing process.

And now to the actual article. Write drunk, edit sober. The reason this quote resonates with me is from all of the memories I have of social gatherings with the guys. I don’t mean to say that everything social has been a blackout night or that I drink a lot, because that certainly isn’t the case. Ever since I moved out of the house, I have had fewer and fewer nights out, much to the betterment of my wallet and GPA, but it means lacking elsewhere. And again, this article isn’t saying go get smashed, but to simply enjoy the company of your friends while you’re with them.

Last weekend I was fortunate enough to have a night out with a couple of my favorite brothers, Nick and Brake. While we were out, it was all about the moment, and living in that moment. It was about the guy next to you who would buy you a shot, have your back in a fight, or make sure you get home alright. Thankfully, none of those negative things happened that night. But as I think about it, living in the moment could consist of the “writing drunk” part. You don’t really realize the significance of the moment, nor what kind of impact it will have later on in life. You’re just there, drinking a Corona at Big Bar with your brothers. It’s hard to realize during a social event, or even the time you’re in college, how good things are. Even in the most difficult of times, I look back and see a solid foundation of brotherhood and friendship that got me through it. All of these kind of just happen, and in the whirlwind that is an undergraduate education, you miss the significance of all of those little moments.

It reminds me of a quote from one of my favorite movies, Black Hawk Down. During some downtime in the fighting, once a few men had been killed, Sergeant Eversman looks over at Hoot and starts to question his decisions as chalk leader. Hoot looks at him and explains that war is war, and you can’t control who gets hit or why. He says, “You’ll have plenty of time to think about all of that later, believe me.”

After writing so many articles about Founder’s Days or alumni nights, I can see that now. It’s as if I finally have the ability to “edit sober.” I’ve always been a sentimental kind of guy, but thinking back to all of those conversations, leaning on the bar, standing outside while smoking a cigar, or chilling in your buddy’s room listening to music, I see all of that significance a lot more clearly. I see the strength in the relationships that I’ve formed. That when I give my brother the secret handshake and hold firmly, I know all the tireless conversations we’ve had with each other, helping each other get through the rough life that is college. There are those moments that you’ll never forget, that will become stories passed down to pledges on alumni nights when they ask what brotherhood means to us. It’s what our organizations are all about.

I guess the point I’m trying to make is to try to read into these moments before they pass you by. It’s thanking and appreciating the guy who drives 20 minutes to come pick you up from a night out. It’s realizing that these aren’t just favors, it’s that you have an everlasting bond of brotherhood that will carry on forever. One day, it’s not that it will be gone, but you’ll be far away from the fraternity house, far away from the school, far away from all of your friends. But the lessons of manhood and being a respectable, caring citizen, will last forever. Never forget that, and appreciate it while you can.