View out my front door at Lake Chataqua… ice-covered of course.
Another quarter over and alas, we get our ever-so-coveted break week. The one week where the only thing that matters is getting 15 hours of sleep per day, and trying in vain to re-grow all the hair that was accidentally pulled out while studying for finals. After a few days of well-needed rest I have successfully replenished my sleep… the hair not so much.
This break I decided to head back and visit my parents for a little R&R back at the homestead. Home for me is now Bemus Point, N.Y., which is in the Empire State’s very southwestern tip. This area is known as the Southern Tier by anyone living within 200 miles and is absolutely nowhere near New York City, a common mistake made by those living on the opposite side of our incredibly large nation. In fact, we are relatively close to the city of Buffalo and Lake Erie, and as such receive huge amounts of snow. These frequent whiteouts can be a perfect excuse to stay indoors and relax; however, a perfectly timed snowstorm after my arrival turned that plan into incessant shoveling in the bitter cold. Though truthfully, I really don’t mind shoveling, it brings back memories of growing up and can honestly be therapeutic in itself.
My fun-loving Golden Retriever doing what he does best!
Heading home for a week has some great benefits. Your parents are excited to see you. This means that extra special care and thought is put into making your favorite meal… thanks Dad! I finally get to visit that old rascally dog that I never see (and who happens to love the snow), but probably the best of all is just enjoying my parents’ company. I’ve been out of the house since high school and with my undergrad university being a nine-hour drive and Chicago being just over eight hours, it’s a rare thing when I walk in the front doors. So with finals over, and the grades posted and done, it’s finally time to have a beer with my Dad, glass of wine with my Mom and just soak in the peace and lack of scattered notebooks. I know I have to enjoy it now, because it’s all gonna start up far too quick, and then it’s back to the books for me.