...because if you drink enough Johnny Walker "products", they will actually just send you the dog...

[bzarcher]

As a favor to paisleycat, I went hunting through my (mostly unpacked!) closet to find any old photos from SciHum - back at that point, I didn't own a digital camera, and I knew I'd shot a fair bit of film now and then, but I really wasn't sure how much if it had survived my moves.

Fortunately, my ability to be a packrat can eclipse my ability to easily lose things.

So, I've been up since Onyx and Patches decided to wake me up by fighting on top of my bed about 3 hours ago, and I've spent the time scanning about a hundred or so pictures, to be uploaded to Flickr for her once I finish.

Bittersweet is about the nicest way I can describe my reaction - it's very painful to see how close so many people were, and how spectacularly a lot of those relationships exploded before our time at Wooster was over. A lot of foolishness and stupidity occured, and I'm well deserving of my fair share of blame in that.

Worse, I also can't help but kick myself for falling out of touch with so many people who I see in these pictures and just barely remember - yet it at least 2 of the cases, I know they lived right next door.

I know I changed a lot in the last 3-4 years. Have they? What's happened to them - where did life take them?

I don't know, and a fair part of it is my own fault for not trying to find out.

It's 9:45. The bar doesn't open up until 10:30, and dear god, I need a drink.

Edit: Huh. Turns out I had some old Cardinal Chorale/AOSFYC pictures at the end of one of those rolls, so I'm scanning/uploading them, too.

Lots of good memories in both places, just lots of sad reflections on them, too.

Things will probably look better after a cup of coffee and a muffin.

Comments

[paisleycat.livejournal.com]

I appreciate these pictures so much. It's strange to see how many of these folks wouldn't cross the street to shake hands these days. I also like seeing what it was like before I got to school. Also everyone looks like baby animals.

[bzarcher.livejournal.com]

Ah, yes.

Baaaaaaaaaaaaaby aminals. :D

[paisleycat.livejournal.com]

I'm really hoping I can get other folks to do what you did and scan in old hard copy pics. I will be doing some once Alex gets home tonight, and I know a couple people IMed me about doing so today. Hopefully the interest and good stuff outweighs the less palatable feelings?

[bzarcher.livejournal.com]

I am looking forward to seeing more - will you share them off your journal or account? I do hope that the good will outweigh the bad, and I'm sure that not having to go through my own stuff will help with that. :D

(Also, if you wish to copy some of my stuff to your own space or hard drive, feel free.)

[demeterschild.livejournal.com]

Mmmmm...Johnny.

Didn't know you were a Ron White fan, hun...but I know what I'm getting you for Christmas now (if you haven't obtained a copy already).

I'm kinda scared to hit the flickr goodness...who knows what terrors from my past might linger in your packrat-horde?

...like long hair. I really should have cut it before I graduated.

[bzarcher.livejournal.com]

*grins* Blame Lisa - she loves most of the Blue Collar stuff, and I like Ron's act.

I think you don't look bad at all in the pictures (yes, and with the long hair), but you can definently see how your face has gotten a little more toned and elegant since.

[demeterschild.livejournal.com]

Steve likes Ron too. *grin*

I really wish I had pics from Halloween this year...I'd like your opinion on the new hair.

[bzarcher.livejournal.com]

Colour me unsurprised. :>

Oh - let Dr. House know that I've put my name in for the NHL draft ticket lottery? I asked for the maximum # of tickets in hope of getting him in with us.

Also, his rotation pending, I was wondering if he'd like to go to the game on 2/18...my birthday's the following Tuesday, and I was thinking we could all go to the hockey game in lieu of doing some sort of birthday party thing.

Ooo - new hair? How's it cut now? Shorter than your last visit?

[demeterschild.livejournal.com]

Yes, it's way shorter in back. I'll talk to him about the rest.

[bzarcher.livejournal.com]

Oo. Sounds lovely.

You totally need to come up here so we can see it. Or vice versa...

In fact - what are you doing Friday? We're off, up here...

*hugs* Feel better, and hope to see you both soon.

[las.livejournal.com]

Sorry we couldn't come over last night :-\ We do still definitely want to get together. And we still got cake if you'll be passing by the neighborhood today :-)

I lost track of a lot of people from college, too. I think that's just Something That Happens -- you go through a lot of really intense experiences with people, and then you move apart.

[bzarcher.livejournal.com]

Not a problem - I definently understand about the plans going sideways at short notice. :D

Sadly, we did not get cake. Boo. :( But there was Shrimpocalypse!

I think you're right - it's hard not to form attachments when you live with people, especially if it's a small community - it's just very shocking to me when I see how close things were, compared to now.

[browntreesnake.livejournal.com]

Nostalgia is always bittersweet, isn't it?

[bzarcher.livejournal.com]

I don't know if it always is - some things are fairly fond for me. But certainly in this case.

There's actually one or two pictures of you in there - feel free to go look.

[duskpaw.livejournal.com]

Life rolls on, man.

I've got piles of those sorts of memories. What makes it harder is that a lot of my good friends are online friends now... and those friendships can be very ephemeral, lasting only until the places where you hung out change, or die off.

It's been a long time since college, and most of those friends have also gone their own ways, and scattered to the winds. Married, Living in Indonesia, or just out of touch, it all continues.

But there are a few folks who I know if I snagged a phone and their number... would hang out in a minute. Few of my partings were bitter - more a matter of drifting apart.

[bzarcher.livejournal.com]

She rolls on, indeed.

Some of them would definently be nice to see again - just hard to keep that vital link in place.

(Of course, I also have not made the time to go to the Homecoming weekends the past 2 years, so whose fault is that? :>)

Hey

[crackernater.livejournal.com]

Is this matt wagner? i'm guessing so...

either way, i'm interested in any AOSFYC pics you might have.

i have a boat load of pictures on my website.
www.phil448.com/aosfyc

hope to hear from you...you can contact me via my contact form on my website! God only knows if i'll check this post again...i just signed up so i could get a hold of you :)

Re: Hey

[bzarcher.livejournal.com]

Wow, I'm terrified and flattered at the same time. :D

Yes, that's me!

Feel free to grab the pictures from my flickr account - just search for pictures from BZArcher, and they're all tagged with AOSFYC.