Note to self: You’re great, stay strong

By DARON CHRISTOPHER Columnist

Dear Daron,

When you receive this letter, one year will have passed. Sorry to be going all… Dear Daron,

When you receive this letter, one year will have passed. Sorry to be going all Doc Brown on you, but I just can’t stress how much I envy you. You are one lucky dude. You have it made. I have to sit here scared to death of what the future holds — and it is all history for you. The reason that I write to you tonight is to make you appreciate all of the ordeals that you have endured to get to the place where you are today.

I don’t care what’s bugging you; you have to admit it’s all been uphill from this night that I sit here in the Hillman library. For one thing, that American Political Process test I have tomorrow is probably but a distant memory for you. This bump on my head that I got while attempting to lift at the Pete has no doubt faded from existence. I imagine you’ve added a few snazzy additions to the old wardrobe by this point — at least, I hope so.

I know, I know. I probably owe you an apology or two. I don’t know what the QPA ended up being, but I take full responsibility for getting you off to a crappy start. But hey, don’t pin all the blame on me. You were there too. Just remember that it wasn’t just me who decided that our time was better spent playing Dance Dance Revolution in the Union than studying.

You know whether or not I should have dropped that History of Russian Cinema course. You know whether or not that pretty girl on the street was blowing me off when she promised to Instant Message me. You know whether or not Tyler Palko finally got his act together. You know if I was able to quit going to parties on weekends bored to hell just because I felt like it was the cool thing to do.

How did the spring semester abroad go? Was it amazing and spiritually fulfilling? Or did I just sort of mope around and complain about the food, hoping to be back in Oakland?

I was just wondering if by any chance there have been any breakthroughs with stem cell research. Has time travel been created? I only ask you to please bring me the 2004-2005 Gray’s Sports Almanac.

Oh, please tell me George W. Bush is back on the ranch in Texas.

All that I know is that as I sit here tonight, facing another long night of writing about the merits of Federalism and preparing for another week of mediocre multi-tasking, I would give anything to be you. Whatever predicaments you face, just try to remember how it felt to sit in this chilly library on this evening.

With any luck, you are too blown away by how much George Lucas redeemed himself with the awesomeness of the third installment in the prequel trilogy to be able to fully comprehend this letter as soon as you receive it, but thanks are in order to you. If I had no hope of better days ahead I’m not sure just how I would be making it though this one. So thanks for giving me that bit of hope.

Write back soon.

Sincerely,

Daron Christopher

As much as Daron enjoys writing to himself, he’d love an e-mail from you, so send one to him at [email protected].