What a storm! This weekend, I felt nostalgic for the New England winters of my childhood, watching the steady snowfall blanketing Hanover’s streets. As much as stomping across campus for my 10 a.m. class sucked on Monday, I could never hate the magical feeling of fresh, sparkling snow.
I’m definitely not the only student thrilled — and chilled — by the weather that brought us into Week 4. Solitary snowmen have started to crop up around campus, their crooked bodies eliciting grins from passers-by. Weirdly, this snow has inspired more whimsy than last month’s holiday season, making the routine grind of the term more bearable than usual.
I spent last weekend parked on my best friends’ couch, then air mattress, then couch again. I didn’t mean to abandon my apartment for almost 48 hours straight, but I was compelled by tons of laughter and, selfishly, the threat of the biting air that would greet me if I left. With the cold came community. We cooked — or rather, they cooked and I abused my guest privileges — watched trashy TV and argued over the rules of a new card game. I was first to come over, but by the end of the night eight of us were crammed on the floor, and conversations piled on top of each other like the layers of snow on the ground.
We rarely get to enjoy weekends like that. Cozy, drawn-out ones, where I learn new details about people I’ve known for years. We all invited the closeness and warmth. I dreaded Monday not because I was overwhelmed with assignments, but because I couldn’t bear for our time together to end.
I’ve been thinking in idle moments about the life I want to have in the rest of my 20s. It looks a lot like this past weekend. Cooped up with people that make me grateful for them just as often as they annoy me. Getting overly sentimental about ridiculous things, like someone offering their leftover canned soup, or telling someone what spices to add to their canned soup. My friends and I made and ate a lot of canned soup.
On Monday morning, I trudged to class in inches of fresh snow, ignoring the fact that my calves burned a little because I hardly moved all weekend. It was worth it to be stagnant, because I was with the idiots — sorry guys — that I love.
This week, our writers cozy up in their own ways. One writer shares their top choice for Hanover’s selection of English Breakfast tea. Another writer reflects on consumption on campus. A veteran writer shares their week maximizing winter activities on campus. Finally, two writers return for their weekly advice column, giving their two cents on an unexpectedly steamy situation.
Happy Week 4, Mirror! I hope you have leftovers from a lock-in weekend like I do. I also hope that you ate something other than canned soup.
