On Vacationing pt. 2

As promised, this is going to be the second part of last night's post, On Vacationing. This part is going to focus more on my relationship and how it relates to Spring Break rather than vacationing in general, so if that sounds like something that might bore you, I'll give you a solid five seconds to switch to something more entertaining, like StumbleUpon or Youtube. Ready? (1......2......3......4......5......)

Okay for those of you still around here is a blip from last night to get you back in the right mindset:

As tonight is my last night in Florida, I can't help but be a little upset. Leaving tomorrow afternoon means not only a long day of traveling to get back home (estimated time of arrival in Clemson is 3am, after driving my truck back from the airport), but also the beginning of another countdown until I can spend time with my girlfriend again. Thankfully, we only have to wait until my graduation, which luckily she will be able to attend.

Saying goodbye each time you see each other in a long distance relationship is not fun. In fact, I think it really gets harder and harder each time. It's kinda like your mind got all excited that the two of you were reunited finally after all that waiting, and then all of a sudden you have to leave and your heart breaks again.

The distance and time apart doesn't really concern me or worry me, it's more of an annoyance. But if I look at everything with a clear mind, all it is is another challenge in our relationship that we have to overcome together -- a challenge that many others are lucky enough to not have to endure. For those of you who are anywhere under an hour's drive away from your significant other, be sure to count your blessings, for you are truly blessed. Never complain about that drive, because for us, driving is not only a forever-away option, but impractical. And if I end up going to University of Oregon next year, I will literally be on the other side of the country, separated yet again.

It's an interesting time in our lives to be dating someone. The college we attend was already picked, and I had never anticipated or planned getting involved with anyone romantically while I was at home for the summer. In fact, the number of people I still am in touch with from high school is so small that I never bother really to get together with anyone while I'm home, and so I figured there is no way in hell that I would ever have that problem. If anything, I figured I would date someone from Clemson, since  the majority of time we would be together at school. Of course, then there is always the issue of grad school and where I might go for that, and at that point I had basically just told myself that I wouldn't worry about anything until I was settled down and had a job somewhere--

--until I met Courtney. Something clicked, and as we started talking and hanging out, I found myself to be completely and totally entranced by this girl, charmed by her personality, attracted to her sense of responsibility, her maturity and her beauty. Long story short, here we are together still, almost 8 months later, still working around and in between the cracks of long distance. It's not easy, and never will be -- and I look forward to a time when we can finally close that gap and get to share our lives daily. And saying goodbye sucks. And we never take as many pictures as we should when we're together to remember the experiences we had together(I'll have to buy a camera and be a Nazi about taking pictures next time...). And as we look toward the future, as she will most likely be returning to Florida to work while I am still in grad school, well it's just hard. It's a lot to take in all at once and a lot to think about.

So, my friends, if you are involved with someone only a few towns away, or even if you're not, treasure the people in your life that you get to see every day. Treat them with the utmost respect and compassion, and extend your helping hands when they need it. Show them how much you care and remind them all the time how awesome they are, how they have positively influenced your life, and how much you value having them in your life. It will mean the world, and it's worth doing. Because I don't get to say those things in person nearly enough.

So Courtney, here's to us, and an eventual future where we don't have to say goodbye.