I took a publishing seminar at U. Penn today, and the whole experience of being back on a college campus and in a classroom really made me miss college. It isn't really the first time I've been to a college since I graduated, but I don't want to count spending eight hours of mind-numbing boredom in the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champagne ballroom as a nostalgic experience. However, putting my mind back into student-mode made me notice a lot of things from college that I still have around me on a daily basis. This is by no means a comprehensive list.
1. My student ID is still in my wallet. I'm not ashamed to admit that I occasionally still use it to get money off things. If you have a moral problem with that, then put yourself through college and see what you can afford post-graduation.
2. My bright orange parking permit sticker is still on the back window of my car. I never did affix the college alumni stickers they keep sending me, but anyone who looks at my car knows I once parked in G Lot.
3. My boss at the library used to make me baskets filled with candy and assorted good things for each holiday. One year, she was out of town so Dee from the ILL department left some candy on my desk and named me "an honorary ILLer." I still have the tag hanging above my desk.
4. A Care Bears valentine from Rictor.
5. A note on blue paper that also sits in my wallet (seriously. and I just cleaned out my wallet too). This note is from Becca and was written with the spinal pen. I would reveal the message, but it's a private joke so you wouldn't get it anyway. Trust me, though, it's funny.
