11th June 2010

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Fast Friendships

So one of the deals working within academia is that people move around a lot. People in the field all know this and you make friends very quickly. Wonderful brilliant friends you feel like you have known your whole life. After almost no time you hang out a ton, laugh, cry, tell stories and secrets, and almost feel like a family. It’s like a friendship with the candle burning on both ends as bright as a star, and it feels awesome.

Then, perhaps the grant funding ends, a PhD is achieved, a Post-Doc completed, or a job with more permanence is found. It’s time to laugh and help pack and tell those last stories and maybe shed a few tears. You load a truck or a car or suitcases, and say your goodbyes and see you soons. Another person (or persons) whom you love in another part of the world.

Before you know it you have friends in all sorts of places. All around the United States for me, as well as places across the globe. You end up with a huge network of places to visit to see friends and travel with excitement. And with email and skype people really stay in touch better than I imagine they did before.

However, I kinda wish more people would stay put for a while. I haven’t gone anywhere… Then again, I probably feel this way because I have had another favorite family that I love head off into the wilds of the west. I know I’ll visit because I can’t bear not to, and there is the promise of seeing Mt. Rushmore, but right now that feels impossibly far away.

So, thanks for everything guys. You have been some of the most fun people to hang out with and I have learned from all of you. Each of you has really been great and I feel like my life is better and changed for knowing you. Safe trip!

Here’s a parting picture, which unfortunately is not of the whole family. I’ll remedy that next time I see them and make sure to get Dad in a shot too.

Tags friendsacademia