I am missing...

...my alma mater, Southern Illinois University Carbondale.  Like, a lot.  I still read their daily newspaper online everyday.  It seems like just a short time ago, I applied and was accepted to attend there.  I graduated in 2003; seven years ago already.  I miss the campus, I miss dorm life (at the time, I never thought I would say that), I miss studying, I miss my backpack, I miss classes, I miss the classrooms, I miss the library, I miss the Student Center, I miss seeing friends on campus, I miss football games, I miss the ridiculousness of the building that is Faner Hall (it, literally, is a maze), I miss Lawson's huge lecture halls, I miss how the Agriculture Building always smelled like fertilizer and how Neckers always smelled like natural gas.  I miss how beautiful Pulliam, Shryock, and McLeod are.  I miss the library - the business of the first floor and the eery quietness of the upper floors and the BALCONY!!  Oh, how I miss the balcony.  I miss hearing all the noises of a college campus.  The bikes whizzing by, the band practicing, friends calling out to each other, the clock tower on Pulliam ringing on the hour.  I miss how beautiful the campus was in the fall.  SIUC has THE most beautiful campus I've ever seen.  It's very spread out with a ton of trees everywhere.  People on bikes, on skateboards, on rollerblades, walking...everywhere.  I miss walking through Thompson Woods.  I miss walking, on average, a mile to class everyday.  I miss the Rec Center and working out.  I miss getting ready to start my weekend nights at 10pm.  Sigh...I miss college.  A whole helluva lot.  I know that's a big reason in my wanting to return to school - to capture that spirit again.  I just wish I were returning to SIUC. I can't wait to go down there for Homecoming, although it will be bittersweet.  I REALLY hope my best friend, April and my sister, Ann can come with, too.  These girls were MY GIRLS at SIUC.  It wouldn't be the same without them.  :)