Shapeless Meanderings

I'm not dead, in case you were wondering.

You probably weren't. But I thought I would reassure you, in case you were.

I've just moved into a dorm room, so my writing life has been a little...nonexistent. You see, I have never moved before. Not once. I've spent my whole life in the same small house. I've never been away from that house for more than two weeks at a time. Now, all of a sudden, I'm living in a small dorm room where the bathroom is shared by the whole floor and the shower curtains don't close all the way. I suppose I must be much more a creature of habit than I thought, because I find this all very disorienting.

I hope, once I settle into some semblance of a routine, that my head will be clearer and I'll be able to write something coherent. I have a few posts queued up, but I don't feel at the moment that I can give them the thought and care that I'd like to. For now, I think I'll just ramble.

There is a tradition at my college in which, the evening before classes begin, all the sophomores, juniors, and seniors organize a surprise parade for the freshmen, to welcome them to their first year. Because nothing is more welcoming than being ambushed by a mob of costumed upperclassmen driving their cars through campus and throwing cold hot dogs at you. Today being the day of this festive affair, I carefully removed myself from campus and walked downtown. I went to an art store and bought a sketch pad, a nice drawing pen, and a black marker. I went to a coffee shop to try them out. I was quite pleased with them. Perhaps I'll post some drawings, if there are ever any that I think are good enough.

I've been working on a little songwriting project when the mood takes me. During the walk back from downtown, I filled in another two stanzas. (Does one call them stanzas in a song?) It will be very hard to practice guitar at school. I don't want to do it in my dorm room, for fear of disturbing others. I tried to play outside the other night, but I was too self-conscious to play very audibly.

Here are the lyrics I have so far. (They aren't great literature, of course, but I'm pleased with them for now :p)

                                                   C                   
                                                   Dear Mariah,
                                                   Dm
                                                   Day comes to an end
                                                   F                    
                                                   I wish we could pretend
                                                   C
                                                   A little longer

                                                  Summer's over
                                                  We never got the chance
                                                  To do the things that we had planned
                                                  When you were stronger

                                                  Sweet Mariah,
                                                  It's time to say goodnight
                                                  And now you need to close your eyes                                                  
                                                  And get some rest, dear

                                                  All your bedsheets
                                                  Are folded up in drawers
                                                  And now they've sanitized the floors
                                                  And you can't sleep here.

                                                                  (chorus)
                                                  Am       F                        C
                                                  I could try to hold your hand,
                                                                          G
                                                  But you won't feel it
                                                  Am               F                   C
                                                  Put all these roses in your lap
                                                                          G
                                                  But you won't see them
                                                  Am              F                      C
                                                  You always hated falling asleep
                                                                 G
                                                  In public places
                                                  Am                      F                                      C
                                                  What would you do if you knew you were surrounded
                                                                 G
                                                  By so many faces
                                           
                                                  Am    F    C
                                                   G
                                                  Around your bed
                                   
                                                   Am   F    C
                                                   G
                                                  Around your bed

That is all I have for now. I hope everyone still in school is coping reasonably with the inescapable reality of impending classes. Goodnight!