Living life one theme at a time

Reality is tough but I'm slowly coming to terms with the fact that I will be graduating from this prestigious institution in a mere month. As I look back on the majestic three and a half years I have spent here on St. James's Mountain, there are many things I will certainly miss. Kimball's Brunch highly rated by Zagat? I'd rather go on a hunger strike. New England's year round, warm and temperate climate? Only when hell freezes over. Years of rigorous academia drilled into my cerebellum? I hope you don't think I'm serious. The feeling one gets when they log onto the virtual portal known only as "the Facebook" and receives an invitation to a monumental theme party the upcoming weekend? OH MY GOD, YES. Whether you're a freshman or a senior the one guilty pleasure that every Holy Cross student enjoys is the undeniable ecstasy of a weekend theme party. There's absolutely no better way to uphold the study hard party hard persona that Holy Cross is renowned for. The ideas range from the most random of sorts. From blacklight parties to toga parties, ugly Christmas sweaters and jorts- anything and everything finds a place to become a central component for a night. As I look around my room I'm a little bit shocked to see that my wardrobe consists of clothes I would never think twice about wearing. A gingerbread man costume whose goody gumdrops buttons are painted red and green in honor of the Christmas spirit, a soft leather satchel full of wampum with a toy bow and arrow to remember the Native Americans that once roamed the land, and a pair of faded denim jeans that would make any soccer mom extremely jealous. Even though I have paid plenty of pretty pennies for these articles of clothing over the years I can gladly say I have had no regrets and that the Army next to Price Chopper has offered me plenty of Salvation. I'm happy to say when my parents ask me after graduation what I'm going to miss the most about college, I can with a straight face, look my mother and father in the eye, and without any hesitation say the one night my friends and I dressed up as the Mighty Ducks and absolutely killed it. I will miss and cherish the days of when I would hide my roommates car keys in the most random of places just so I could get first dibs on essential party attire. That the extra $20 I slipped my girl Betty Sue behind the register to save me only the most ridiculous of outfits went to good use. That the instant camaraderie created when students run into other each other at the Salvation Army goes for years upon end. And finally, that these creative traditions continue long after I leave this campus in hopes that my future children will one day have the opportunity to have these treasured experiences as well.