I met Katie my first quarter of college in Santa Barbara. She was in my writing class and was the only one who seemed to really appreciate my biting sarcasm and shared mutual distaste for the hack who taught the course. In our larger classes together, we’d heckle all the a-holes who would ask a million questions two minutes before class ended by muttering and sometimes shouting, ‘take it up in office hours asshole’. Yes, I was THAT obnoxious. What can I say? I was 17 and not living with my overly strict Asian parents.
She stuck around Santa Barbara well after graduation to teach at a local elementary school. About six years ago, she moved to Buffalo, New York for graduate school. In the 16 years since we’ve know each other, we only write letters to each other. Like snail mail, postage and everything. No emails allowed, that’s the rule. Jesus Christ, my hand starts to cramp just thinking about not being able to type an email. And every year we exchange birthday and Christmas gifts (via mail!). She was even at my wedding ten years ago.
Here’s to that god-awful 8AM writing class. If not for that, I wouldn’t have met my life long pen pal.
Scorpio Oct 24 – Nov 21
