stunder som den här *

There's this song that I love that is from a band that played at the summer camp I went to while I was in high school. It poetically lists some of the most lovely things that you can have memories of with people you care about... the songwriter tells of dances in the ballroom, sailing until the dawn, going through the fields to camp on the grass with all of his friends, telling stories by the fire and falling asleep under the stars... I think that ever since I first heard this song I've subconsciously held these things in my mind some of the highest forms of true fun you can have with friends.

The songwriter also lists a few things for whomever he's singing to about what will remind him of them, and hopefully, what will remind them of him... "you'll remember me when you see the horizon melt into the sea"... some beautifully written verses.

For friends we have to say goodbye to, whether for a short or long or uncertain time, what a lovely thing it is to have made the most of your time with them, for it to have been quality time, and for you to part knowing that it will be truly good things that will remind you of each other.

I said goodbye on Thursday, and upon reflection, I will think of my Swedish friends when I...

have a bonfire in my backyard
hear the anthemic, explosive beat of good house music
choose to walk instead of drive to downtown
go to Northstar Cafe...it was like a second home
don't take the sun for granted even though it's easy to do here
go to Indochine and (if the music's right) dance the night away...

I will remember J in particular when I...

see the color coral this summer
lay out at the Villa Constance pool (May Grey and June Gloom stole a few afternoons from her though)
next go to the Boathouse
go to Urban Outfitters
grill salmon this summer
see a beautiful girl who can't resist a good beat
stroll down State Street to shop but don't have a wise and thoughtful friend to talk to

I will remember H when I...

hear Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'"
slice bananas into my cereal
next go to the Getty
play with baby Carly; she adored him and how he spoke Swedish to her
am on a dancefloor with a smoke machine
see or play all the music added in the past six months to my itunes/ipod
think about being 26
next need something fixed in my house/car/computer
hear someone make up hilarious and creative metaphors
go to pinkberry, especially if i get raspberries
am cold but don't admit it and someone is observing and gives me their coat anyway
have lively opinionated discussions about international affairs
want someone to talk with about history
next stand at the end of the pier
remember my old studio
remember this studio someday
think about Santa Barbara someday

And like they've said, among other things, they will think of me when they remember their wonderful year abroad in California, they'll think of me sometimes when they miss sunny Santa Barbara, they'll think of me as their American friend that they were grateful for and want to know for years to come...

I couldn't ask for anything more than that.


Nothing makes the earth seem so spacious as to have friends at a distance; they make the latitudes and longitudes.
~Henry David Thoreau

*moments like this