• As I'm sitting here, I'm reminiscing. Horribly. To the summer before my Freshman year. The two greatest, and two worst, months of my life.

    Oh, Oklahoma; What memories you hold for me. All the amazing nights, all the amazing friends. And, ironically enough, my favorite song by my favorite band is associated with you. All of you. My friends. My memories. My mistakes. My triumphs. All of it. Because that was the first song I listened to with you guys at Andrew's place. The first CD we put in, and the first track Andrew fast-forwarded to, because he was practically addicted to that song.

    You guys were undoubtedly some of the best friends I'd ever had. All those nights we spent at Andrew's place, staying up until three in the morning; Laughing, talking, blaring our music, roaming the streets, filling Andrew's place with so much cigarette smoke that my eyes burned, and I had to go outside to catch my breath. Laying on Andrew's roof with Cullen, Cheeks, and Spencer; Dropping matches on the poor idiots dumb enough to walk up to the door. Truth Or Dare, junk food, Braum's Ice Cream, and, above all, the acceptance I felt with you all. Going out after curfew to the old hospital. The night we got caught coming home from the hospital, and getting ticketed for breaking curfew...

    God, we were all so scared. Except for Spencer, of course. Nothing ever phased you, bro. You were going into the Army in less than a month, and you still kept a level head. Jimmy, worried that his dad was gonna knock his lights out. Jessica and Jenna; Jenna's mom coming out and lighting into them. Andrew's parents... Hahaha! And of course, Niki; My egg donor. Dear Jesus, that was lovely.

    But I don't regret a moment of it. Because I loved you guys with everything I had. You guys accepted me from the get-go at The Tree. I still remember exactly how we met. All of us, standing behind the club while "Somebody's Hero" was playing their set inside. Truth Or Dare, and almost beating the holy hell out of Cheeks because he started running his mouth about Jessica.

    God, I miss you guys. Andrew, Jenna, Spencer, Jessica, Cullen, Jimmy, Cheeks, James.... All of you.

    And, of course, my family from work. Sheila, Dustin, Caitlin, Brooke, and Cullen, without whom I never would've met my other family.

    I love you all, and miss you more than I'll ever be able to express. You guys were the greatest friends an outcast, spazzchild like me could ever hope for.





    "I've got some friends;
    Some that I hardly know.
    But we've had some times
    I wouldn't trade for the world.
    We chase these days down with talks
    Of the places that we will go."