Last week, I was sitting in the ethnic studies room of Helen C. White with my roommate Ben. We read in silence, when suddenly, out of nowhere, he leaned forward and whispered.
\What was the friend's name on 'Blossom'? Was it Six?"" he asked
I nodded yes.
""That's so weird,"" he responded.
Relieved of his question, Ben went back to his subdued reading as if he had merely asked me the time. Meanwhile, I struggled to go back to work. But it wasn't the random reminder of Jenna von O?? and her gigantic hats that distracted me. I was distracted because that was the first moment I realized just how much I'm going to miss Ben when he leaves Madison.
Ben and I first lived together our second year of college. We met freshman year in the Highlander when we were both stuck in uncomfortable roommate situations. Ben was living with a Christian evangelist, who would chastise Ben for drinking beer or reading Maxim, and would frequently wear T-shirts that said ""S.H.O.C.: Students High On Christ.""
Meanwhile, I lived alone for my first seven weeks of college, only to then have a 34-year old Spaniard inexplicably move in. Manuel was one of the nicest guys I've ever met, but he also had the nasty habit of screaming in his sleep. One morning, he came to me and confusingly apologized for a scream I had never heard. Sure enough, the next night, just as I was putting my head down to sleep, I heard what can only be described as a bone-chilling howl worthy of Tarzan or Howard Dean.
Since that traumatizing year, Ben and I have lived together and had a lot of fun. I've watched him go from a responsible, low-key scholar to a high-strung procrastinator, while he's watched me go from a bumbling introvert to a bumbling extrovert. Our friendship has lasted while coaching each other through first hangovers, first breakups and first jobs. Ben has dragged me to the library and served as my wingman with women, while I've attempted to teach him to cook and served as his third wheel with girlfriends.
But a key part of the college experience is leaving. I'm going to need a fifth year to graduate, while Ben will graduate this May and already has a job lined up for next fall in Seattle. The sadness of watching friends graduate and leave before I do is like that of a unicorn waving goodbye to Noah's Ark as it leaves without him. And watching Ben go is particularly sad.
But I know that Ben and I will still be in touch. I know that the close trifecta of friends we have formed with our friend Aditya is not something that will vanish just because one of us is moving. I know that just as we have always given each other pep talks before exams and dates, we will probably someday give each other pep talks before career decisions and weddings. And I know that I will always be able to count on Ben for random references to '90s television programming.
But in later days of my life, I know that it will make me smile to look back on four years of college, when I had a Six to my Blossom.
amosap@hotmail.com.
