10. Dancing to Lynx and the Polish Ambassador post-Wicker Park Fest at the Double Door. 9. Perfect lemon squares. (last weekend in Chicago)
8. Kickboxing. (all the time)
7. IPR Goodbye Party, complete with Cozy pad see-ewe and whoopie pies, just after falling off my bike and accepting the kindness of strangers who fixed me up and drove me where I needed to go.
6. Snowpocalypse (first rhubarb pie, walking in the snow-filled street, and waking up to the acceptance call from Cardozo).
5. Last pre-move night in St. Louis with family and friends around the bonfire at my sister's fabulous new, old house in Tower Grove.4. Surprise Pretty Lights set in the actual forest of the Electric Forest, and endless nights of dancing and fun with my oldest best bestie at my first real music fest.
3. Pre-Future Rock time in NYC with a new friend/fellow law student who cheered me up and spent two hours scribbling new storylines and comic characters for Traynor Wins on the placemat of a shared plate of guacamole.
2. Exploring the new city with an old friend (culminating in my first 6 a.m. New York pizza), and bumping into my (little did I know) new best friend at an outdoor concert at the MOMA PS1.
1. Hiking 5 miles through the Redwood Forest and back to spend the afternoon in the California, Pacific-ocean breeze, reading alone at Pebble Beach. A close 11th was also returning from Thanksgiving, dragging myself to class, and walking outside afterward to find some great comfort in seeing the regular circle just waiting outside so we could all grab our coffee during the break. I think that was the day I finally used my saved-up coupon for a free Newsbar coffee. And by coffee, I mean a giant dirty chai. This seems like a rather insignificant memory in light of all the great change and experiences I've had this year. But something about the regularity it represents makes it all the more special.
To new friends and old, I miss you and love you all. Hope the new year brings you all comfort and challenge, as the last one did for me. <3
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Oh, no! How could I forget? This was definitely #1.
