The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, April 19, 1989-Page 15
'The Schef's Specialty
IfBY ADAM SCHEFTER
There have been signs all along.
In the fall of my junior year, my friends and I received
a letter from a friend who had graduated from Michigan
the previous April. "Every day you wake up at school,
whether its snowing or raining, whether you have a term
paper to finish or a final exam to take, be thankful you
are in Ann Arbor. Because before you know it, it will all
be over. And, take it from me, you'll wish that you were
4 back there."
* Well, it didn't say exactly that, but you get the idea. I
r laughed. Here I was, almost two years away from gradua-
tion, and I was being lectured about savoring every mo-
ment of college. Even the crummy ones.
Then there was this past December; the moment I fi-
nally comprehended that college is not like diamonds.
It's not forever.
I was walking home after finishing a final exam when
I came to the house where seven of my closest friends
lived. In the driveway was a red Nissan, filled to the top
like a child's toy box, with duffle bags, boxes, books,
the essentials for a college student.
In the front of the car sat Tec a Mr. Rodgers look-
alike, and his girlfriend Leah, both of whom had gradu-
ated in December. I approached the car with two of my
roommates and stopped.
"Ted," I muttered, looking at the car. "You're leav-
ing..Leaving!"
Silence.
Words are tough to come by at moments like that.
Ted nodded his head and shrugged his shoulders helpless-
ly. He lifted his right arm, slowly waved good-bye, put
his car into reverse and my head into a tailspin.
My roommates turned to me. They asked me why I
would say such a thing, why I would emphasize Ted's al-
ready agonizing experience. I explained I didn't mean to.
I was stunned, mesmerized by the fact that someone I
started college with four years ago was backing out of
the driveway, heading home. Not for a weekend. Or a
summer. But for a lifetime.
Now, I am in in the unenviable position of having to
say good-bye to the finest years I've ever known.
So this is my good-bye column. My chance to try to
express what it means to have the best four years of my
life come to a close. What it means to have to say good-
bye to the friends that I love so dearly. What it means to
have been lucky enough to have had four years at the
best school in the country.
In the past, I have often heard adults say that they
would give anything to have one more year at college.
Can I consider myself an adult and say the same thing?
I've certainly done everything possible these past few
months to prolong my final year.
I have walked down State Street slower than Iever
have, staring nostalgically at trees that I once sat under,
eating Steve's ice cream, taking in all that a sunny day
in Ann Arbor has to offer. I have lied on the hammock
on the porch of my house and gazed out at Church
Street, replaying a road trip to Chicago or a fraternity
football game that was salvaged in the final minutes.
Yet, like I imagined, none of this has made a
A time to say so long
difference. The days have picked up speed, almost like
watching Leroy Hoard breaking through the line of
scrimmage and into the open-field against USC in this
year's Rose Bowl.
In the song America by Simon and Garfunkel, there
is a line that puts this passage of time into perspective:
"Michigan seems like a dream to me now."
And today, my alarm clock is going off, louder than
ever before. But this time, unlike so many other morn-
ings at college, there is no snooze button to press. Time
to get up. Say good morning to the real world. Sure was
the fastest dream I've ever had.
They say you always remember your first kiss. Well,
your first day at college is just as memorable. Lasts
longer, too.
I remember my mother and I arriving at my dorm,
Mary Markley. Unpacking all my belongings into a
tiny, square-shaped room and going to eat dinner at the
Real Seafood Co. to relax my nerves.
From then until now, I have accumulated memories
that make a college experience, especially a Michigan
one, unforgettable. They thought they had a lot of mem-
ories to discuss in The Big Chill.
Hah. I could talk their ears off.
There was Michigan wide receiver John Kolesar pull-
ing in a 77-yard touchdown pass against Ohio State and
running right at the frantic student section. Spring break
trips. Florida and Coppertone. Acapaulco and Corona.
Jamaica and reggae. Venezuela and riots. Cooking din-
ners. Dinner dates. Laughs. Parties. Barbecues. Intra-
mural championships. National championships. More
laughs.
Life doesn't get any better than that.
Never mind the times of being buried in the library
and being forced to learn an entire semester of account-
ing. Never mind the times of waking up the morning
after a big party at your house that looks like only
Neanderthals attended. Not to mention simply waking up
the morning after a big party.
This is not what you remember.
But now, I am forced to face reality: the past is gone,
the present is fleeting and the future is frightening.
Graduation is staring me right in the face. I don't
think I have ever wanted to turn my back on something
more. Who wants to give up a grown-up life without
grown-up responsibilities?
Next year, I will be without my best friends, Dave,
Gregg, Jeff R., Jeff W. and Sam, who have been my best
buddies since my first year at school. I will be without
football Saturday's; without long Christmas and summer
breaks; without thousands of people, all close in age, all
ready to have a great time; without late nights with long
conversations; late nights with munchies; and just late
nights.
And who will ever forget any of it?
There are certainly enough memories to fill my car
for a long and lonely ride home. Just like I was warned.
Just like I witnessed.
You know, I never did like saying good-bye.
Instead, I say, so long.
O
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and the school
year's
through, Time to pack
up and leave,
but before you do
You got to find some
Well it's finals time
cash to
see you
..-I
through
June, July, and August
too.
The Union Bookstore
is the place for you!
They're gonna give you
back CASH for the
Michigan
.2Zkstore
1
books you
can't use!
They '11 pay half price
for the books that are
hot, and a lower
amount for the books
that are not!
Their computer will tell
you just what the
book's worth. They' 11
Mazda tins0h
class of '89 deserves
alot of credit.
Isn't it time you rewarded yourself with a sporty
new Mazda car or truck?
Mazda American Credit has a First Reward
program that makes it
_ easier for college
graduates
to qualify
for new car
Mazda 323 financing. And
right now, special incentives will save you hundreds of
dollars which can be applied to your down payment.
Get $400 cash back on Mazda 323, or $750
cash back on a Mazda
MX-6 or any 4x2
:.:::or 4x4
Mazda
truck.
The
Mazda MX-6 choice is yours,
and the selection is great, but time is short: cash back
incentives end April 30. See your local Mazda Dealer
or call our 800 number
today. And I,
/ ,.
f ...,
!
0
m ""'
give you cash
spot so stop th
I
Before you leave town
or pack those books
away, remember the
Michigan Union
Bookstore will pay .. .
FOR
YOUR
on the
ere first!
-9
*
BOO
Si
- - - -
I IMICHIGAN UNION BOOKSTORE
OPEN SEVEN
DAYS
A WEEK
ON THE GROUND FLOOR
OF THE MICHIGAN UNION
1 1
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