Sitting in the Atlanta airport watching the masses buzz by I am struck by my anonymity. Nobody knows me here. In some ways that’s good. Nobody really cares that I just dropped marinara from my lukewarm pizza bagel onto my jeans. But it also makes me miss my family, not just my family at home but the family my quad has become. We laugh at and with each other and call out personal quirks. Surely they would not let that pizza stain go without a few snarky but loving comments.
Notre Dame dorms remind me of an old sitcom my dad used to watch called “Cheers.” It depicted a group of misfits who frequented a Boston bar and forged a kind of family. As the theme song declared, Cheers was a place “where everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came.”
So, as the semester winds down, I’ll join the long list of Observer staff members who have used this column to write a letter and, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, pen a thank you to my roommates.
Dear Heather, Sarah and Shannon,
Thank you. Three months into this little experience that is quad 422, we’ve managed to not yet burn down Pdub while fitting a few good memories.
Thank you for remaining patient when I didn’t have a dresser leaving my bed de-lofted, desk in the common room and stuff everywhere. When the stress of living out of a suitcase for the first three weeks of the year got too much, you all simply allowed me to vent, when you yourselves were being inconvenienced.
Thank you for always providing an endless supply of cheez-its and chocolate milk. Despite your obvious disapproval of my random eating habits, you nonetheless support me, and I'm always happy to share a late night bag of popcorn.
Thank you all for never vocalizing your frustrations when I’ve left a pile of clothes on the ground and insist I’ll take care of it only to finally address it days later.
Heather, thank you for never complaining when I return to the room after a long night at The Observer and make a ton of racket climbing up the ladder or fail to turn off my alarm in the morning.
Sarah, thank you for always sharing your Hulu account and never questioning my strange DJ choices. You’re always eager to join me in a good laughing fit and provide some quick whip in response.
Shannon, thank you for tolerating my endless need for tissues and people watching out on mod quad. Your proclivity toward adventure has filled the past year with so many good stories.
As more and more people elect to move off campus for junior or senior year, I’m reminded of how thankful I am for the time we get together. I will forever be grateful to friends who allow me to ramble about Thunder basketball, FaceTime my parents an unnecessary amount of times and be my quirkiest self. You three have seen me at my worst and laughed with me at my best.
Now, as I board my connecting flight to South Bend I can’t wait to return to my second home, our little quad with all the little annoyances we’ve all learned to live with and even enjoy. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Love,
Charlotte
