twentysomething.

I miss Wheaton.

As in, the college.

As in, the four years I spent at that lovely institution that is Wheaton College.

Today I ran my five miles in the neighborhoods around Wheaton. Partly, I wanted to avoid running on the Prairie Path by myself because, while I know it's probably safe, and especially because it's in Wheaton - but I'm still used to good-old-ghetto-Springfield-Virginia, where you don't run by yourself unless you know you can see people nearby. But also, recently, I have just wanted to be in Wheaton. And, let me tell you - I'm so glad I did.

The past few weeks, as people are going back to school [and again, I am not], I have been really nostalgic for Wheaton, for college, for the whole experience. Maybe it's because last year at this time I was still really excited about being a "working woman," the first year not starting school, holding down a job, a new apartment, the whole nine yards. But this year, the magic is gone. Don't get me wrong, I love my life, and it still is very new and exciting every day. I am by no means over this whole "adult thing". I'm just pretty nostalgic for those four years that I sometimes have a hard time believing are over.

Occasionally I wish I could go back and do the whole thing again, knowing what I know now. But then, it wouldn't be the same experience, and I'm the person I am today because I didn't know what I know now. See, these are the mind-puzzles in which I often find myself because, as my roommate often says, I over-think things. But, you know what, sometimes, I just love being alone with my thoughts.

And that's what today's run was for me. [Can I also just add here, that it brought me back to freshman year when Hillary and I played lacrosse and wouldn't even be able to run all the way to Scripture press without stopping, and now I just tacked on that loop from Fischer to Scripture Press without a second though. Oh, how times have changed.] It was refreshing to be in Wheaton, to think about those four years, and to relive them in my mind for a little while - and also run without having to come across anyone that I know in my sweaty state.

At the end, I was overwhelmed with nostalgia. Or maybe just exhaustion. Either way, it was a pleasant evening for a run. After all, it was barely 65 degrees!