"Four years. If I had them now. Like gold in my hand." --Joe Versus the Volcano

I remember:
--Reading Homer outside Bonnycastle dorm until 3am
--Finding any excuse to take a walk around grounds
--Anxiously anticipating the arrival of the new course offering directory
--Pulling multiple all-nighters a week and discovering the joys of second dinner with the men (and women) of the Community
--Ditching town on the last day of fall finals to see Simon & Garfunkel in D.C.
--Will calmly asking Missy to open her door after she slammed his hand in it
--Valentine's Day in Lewisburg
--Leaving the country for the first time on a spring break mission trip to Mexico
--Hanging out with the Project Transformation interns, thinking that I was miserable because my girlfriend had broken up with me (and only later realizing that I was having the time of my life)
--Being coerced into asking "that girl" from the DeLuca show what it was like to be on stage
--Heading straight to Clemons after the big win over Virginia Tech to write the paper I'd put off all weekend
--Free drinks from Scott at the Little John's
--Elizabeth (and Nikki and Jessie and lots of others) making fun of my energetic prayers
--Guitar lessons with Andrew in Page
--Outdoor Vespers with Drew and Alex
--Talking sports and class and politics and life with Geoff, Eddie, and the gang in the Dwelling living room
--The baby that Bethany and Caroline left on our doorstep
--Sitting in the back of Michael Smith's human rights class, with a whole row of Wesley folks
--Hosting my parents and all my family from Tennessee for Convocation and Ring Ceremonies the day after having my wisdom teeth removed
--New Year's board games with Matt, Joel, and Tim
--"A New Coat of Paint"
--Sleeping in a tent in Arizona with Scott and Andrew
--Sleeping among the mice in New York with Scott and April
--The Barrett Catilian at William & Mary
--Random, unforgettable journeys with Sasha, et al.
--Kirk & Bethany's engagement party
--Shawn & Nikki's wedding
--Grant & Katie's wedding
--Sitting numbly in front of my hallmates' television on 9/11
--"The Great Storm is Over"
--Pilgrimages to Taize, Iona, Red Bird, and Westview on the James
--Being there when the Wild Wings reopened
--Vera & Grayson
--Meeting Gin at church and learning that people from Maine really are called Mainiacs
--Astronomy class with Jen and Rachel
--Looking forward to Thursday night all week
--Learning everything I needed to know about college from Ben Flood
--Welcoming Dr. & Mrs. Patrick Matsikinyiri to our home for a weekeend
--Nickel Creek at Springfest and Carbon Leaf every other weekend for a year
--Almost converting to Judaism after sitting in on a few lectures by Peter Ochs
--The hope and energy of the student activities fair
--Going the wrong way on a one-way street in Washington, D.C., trying to get to the Call to Renewal Pentecost Conference
--The calling of the Virginia Reel at the Collonade Ball
--11pm workouts in Mem. Gym
--Ballroom dancing in Slaughter
--Having class with D'Brickashaw Ferguson and Connor Hughes
--Endless research for Lauren Winner on Anglicanism in colonial Virginia, Evangelical disdain for Jimmy Carter, and the return to chastity
--Preaching a tent revival in Nelson County and women's prison services in Fluvanna
--Cookie bakes
--Advent services
--Having my grandmother drive us the long way out of Charlottesville just so we could drive by the Rotunda
--Bumping into Coach Gillen at the Credit Union
--Dinner with all 51 Miss America contestants
--Lending Brian Lee my Bible...and sponsoring him for baptism
--Heading home to Pheonix every night with Matt Day
--Caravaning back to the Heights to cast our symbolic votes for John Kerry
--Meeting Terry McAuliffe in Newcomb Hall
--Watching UVA beat Iowa State and not even noticing
--Emily Couric's funeral (and other profound experiences with super-G.A. Renee Macbeth)
--Coffee & Theology
--Weekly lunches with Ashlee
--Richmond Hill
--Clubbing in D.C. on Kristen's birthday
--Falling completely, hopelessly, head-over-heels in love with the girl of my dreams (and discovering that she kind of likes me as well...)
--"Birdhouse In Your Soul"
--Hosting a fierce, but generous debate here on equality in ordination
--Beach weeks in Duck
--Crying after Baccalaureatte services
--Crying when Alex announced he was moving
--Getting married under the cup of noodles in Times Square...and during a Mexican party game...and in the Foundation parking lot (but this time only as a tribute to The Princess Bride)
--Northern Virginia service retreats
--8am discussion sections with Lauren Connolley
--Feeling smarter just for entering the Alderman stacks
--Meetings with Deborah and Sara on the front porch in Waynesboro
--Camp Highroad confirmation retreats and staff parties with Elizabeth
--Dragging Will to the Teeter against his better judgment
--Wrapping Christmas presents on the living room floor of the Cottage
--Sharing a community meal (and a lovely *stroll* down the Lawn) in the middle of Hurricane Isabel
--Thesis meetings and communion celebrations with Professor Warren
--Missing the graduation paperwork deadline and having to throw myself on the mercy of the Garrett Hall bureaucracy
--Camping out in the snow, only to lose to Duke by 20
--The Albemarle County Fair
--Easter sunrise on Humpback Rocks
--3, then 4 & 5 together
--More lessons and blessings than I could have ever dreamed

As you can see, this list could go on forever (and maybe it should...), but now I'm off to substitute teach at Clark Elementary School, where (if all goes well) I'll also finish up this 200 or so pages of reading for my Reproductive Ethics seminar which meets tonight and continue working on my law school presentation of Bush v. Schiavo, which is scheduled for tomorrow evening.

I ought not complain. I have the most wonderful fiance in the entire world, a great set of roommates, perhaps the most fun and rewarding job I'll ever enjoy, a loving and supportive family, a challenging slate of coursework in a unique graduate program, and I'll be able to walk to Clark today on a beautiful fall morning.

And recently April and I were having lunch down the hill at La Taza, Belmont's chic new coffeehouse, when the bells from Hinton Avenue rang out, announcing that God is doing something new and exciting in this community. All is well, if a little quiet, on this front, but I'm only able to appreciate that because of the incredible journey I've shared with so many fellow pilgrims over the past four years.

Shalom!