“I’m hungry. Let’s get off here and eat.” “All right,” I replied, and followed Adam off the… “I’m hungry. Let’s get off here and eat.” “All right,” I replied, and followed Adam off the bus. We were 15 then and still about five minutes away from our actual bus stop – the one we got off at every day of the school year. But Adam, upon seeing a restaurant through the window, realized he was hungry. So we went out to eat. I’ve always admired Adam for his free spirit. If it wasn’t for that part of his nature, that single day in the middle of sophomore year would have meshed together with all the rest. But because Adam was hungry and noticed that sign, it stands out amongst them as a special memory. In fact, I don’t remember anything about the general routine I must have fallen into that year. I don’t remember the classes I was in, although I went to each of them more than 150 times. But I remember on that day we went to The Red Brick, I had a calzone and we talked about how cool it was that we did something completely spontaneous. I love memories. The fact that we can store them away makes life worth living. But they’re only created when we step away from the banal order of things and do something special. My friend Adam is always willing to do that and, more importantly, he is always willing to take me along. Of course nowadays I don’t take special notice of going out to eat with a friend. But it’s that same spirited spontaneity that led Adam to think it would be cool to backpack across Europe, which we did for six weeks last summer. Adam goes to school in New York City now and I scarcely ever see him. Now I find myself searching within, hoping to find that some of his spontaneity has rubbed off on me. I know I’ll find it soon. After all, we all have the power to be spontaneous; to break from the depressing monotony of our daily lives; to do something worth remembering. Unfortunately, most people drift from day to day constantly ignoring this fact. They’re bound to a state of inactivity. Of course they go to class and eat and some may even do their homework, but by and large most people make no real effort to do anything worth noting. I used to start conversations like that: “Done anything noteworthy lately?” The answers were always disappointing. From time to time, do something worth remembering. You don’t have to burn yourself out by constantly trying to “live life to the fullest.” Just be aware that at any moment you do have the power to choose your course: You can go home and take a nap, get on a bus and go to the Warhol museum, finally talk to the cute girl/guy you’ve been watching all semester, write your significant other a love letter, go to the gym or start planning a road trip. Thinking now, I can’t help but wonder how many days in my life I actually remember. Even holidays – which are designed to be memorable – all blur together. Christmas three years ago? I have no idea. It’s a depressing ratio – that of days remembered to days passed. It’s a ratio that I am determined to change. I think I’ll go climbing this weekend. Sometime this month I want to skip a few days of class, drive to D.C. and see a case argued before the Supreme Court. I’ve got my fingers crossed for Jamaica this summer. As for you, go to the Warhol museum. Now! Nobody can stop you.

Will Minton would like to thank Adam Naumoff for all he’s done as a friend. Will can be reached at [email protected].