Nostalgia Must Die

There will not be any talk of high school ending. I will not be sentimental or nostalgic today. I will talk about Journ and Judgment.

I was editor of my school paper for the past year (and a half). I have a small staff, just ten girls. We've been together for two years and really gotten to know each other. All that said - these ten girls are insane. Every day I look forward to Journ (we newspaper folk are always shortening words because we're in a hurry to get the news out, we can't afford to take the extra millisecond to say the whole word) because undoubtedly everyone always ends up shouting over each other. It's like an episode of The View, loud women who start out just talking about a given topic but who always end up shouting like crazy women. I love it and I'm...[NO.I almost got nostalgic there. Must not be nostalgic.]

Since I've officially handed the paper over to the Junior (now rising Senior) Editor, we don't have anything to do in Journ class. We just sit around and chat, laughing and, in Mollie's case, screaming. Today, just like many other days, we shared stories. Many of these stories were drunken escapades, run-ins with the police.

I'm about to graduate high school. Alcohol is a part of my life. It's gotten me in trouble (case in point), it's made me sick, but generally I've always been very responsible. I'm 18 years old, old enough to vote and old enough to die in battle. Yes, I am a supporter of lowering the drinking age. But I don't want to talk about that, though. It's been talked over many times before.

In the past few days I've experienced some judgment because of my decision to drink in high school. Really? Stop judging me. I drink responsibly. I don't even drink every weekend and I certainly don't drink to get drunk. I know people who are much worse. And, honestly, I don't think drinking in high school makes me a bad person.

But this girl, a friend of mine no less, made a statement today, her voice dripping with judgment and that look on her face. This is a good friend of mine. I respect her choice not to drink. I don't judge her. I could understand if I had a problem and, as a friend, she felt the need to say something. That is definitely not the case.

Stop judging me. Yes, I'm not like you. I don't go to Church, I don't pray, I don't even really believe in religion. I drink, I have sex, I've done drugs. But I'm not a bad person.

I get good grades. I read the newspaper every day. I do service. I have good relationship with my family. I'm a loyal friend. I'm honest. I'm responsible. I care. I'll give you $20 and never ask you to repay me even though I don't have much money myself. If you need help, I'll be there without asking questions. I'm respectful. I'm nice.

I'm not perfect by any means but I'm not a bad person. Stop judging me.

Sorry for that mini-rant. That's what has been on my mind today.

Reading: [clicketyclick] Egypt to Be Center Stage in Obama's Address to Arabs [clicketyclick]
Literally at this moment that is what I am reading. I'm a NYT disciple. My favorite article from today: [clicketyclick] In German Suburb, Life Goes On Without Cars [clicketyclick]

Listening: Free Man in Paris - Joni Mitchell
Just came up in my iTunes shuffle and it makes me smile.