It's almost August already. The first two months of vacation have breezed by and the summer is starting its end. It may be less obvious to most, but to those who notice the slight change, it's quite dramatic.

In about two weeks, the first of us will leave and begin classes as a college student. It still feels awkward to say that. The thought of it leaves me in some discomfort. The same ol' pattern arose; I expected it, but it still managed to catch me by surprise. Why is it that these transitional summers always seem to be so...unique? There's something about these that set them apart from others, I can't put my finger on it. Well, actually, I know exactly what it is, I just fail to see why. I assumed that the absence of a forceful school environment would this slack within most friendships, but it somehow brought some of us, not all, closer together. Is it the fear of entering new frontiers on our continuously branching paths? When it comes down to it, is fear the only thing in life keeping us together? Of course it isn't necessarily a bad thing. That just goes to enforce the idea that fear can be healthy.

It's crazy to think that in the next two months, we'll all be going our separate ways. It's been such a great summer and it has to end with such abruptness. I'm just stuck in that weird place where reality finally hits. Time really doesn't fit in with everything that comprised the past 12 months. The lines blur, and all there is left...is life. -