Swinger of Birches

When I see birches bend to left and right
Across the lines of straighter darker trees,
I like to think some boy's been swinging them.
But swinging doesn't bend them down to stay
As ice storms do...

I'd like to go by climbing a birch tree,
And climb black branches up a snow-white trunk, Toward heaven, till the tree could bear no more,
But dipped its top and set me down again.
That would be good both going and coming back.
One could do worse than be a swinger of birches.
 -Robert Frost 


This isn't a book though it's supposed to be book week here on "The Girl With an Opinion on Everything." It is my favorite poem and it seemed fitting this week.

I remember discussing "Birches" in my American Lit class Jr. year of high school. I don't believe any other students had anything to say about the poem, as high school students don't often have something to contribute in class discussions, but I do recall having a different take on the poem than my teacher did.

This is really embarrassing to admit, but in 8th grade, I loved the movie Here on Earth with Leelee Sobieski, Josh Hartnett, Chris Klein. I linked the imdb page so you can watch the trailer and make fun of me all you want. However, this movie introduced me to Frost's masterpiece. In the movie the poem is being recited at a high school graduation that Chris Kleins character watches from afar and he whispers the words of the poem along with the speaker; it was so beautiful.

Maybe this is why my teacher and I saw the poem differently, she had never seen that fine piece of cinema; too bad for her. But in the movie, the poem signifies the passing of time, things changing and growing up. It represents being nostalgic and grieving for what you once had.

This morning my best friend and roommate packed all her stuff and moved away, to go be with some silly named Andrew. We lived together for four years, and being an only child, a roommate is the closest thing I can ever have to a sister.

The picture to the right is our first birthday outing together. My birthday is December 7, and Lindsay's is December 8, but we were actually only born about 7 hours apart. This pictures shows, pre-100-pound Lindsay, and post swim-team me before I learned how to eat like a non-athlete. Dear God, this picture is awful, but so appropriate for this blog-post. 

Last night we had a good-bye party with some, but not all of our best friends from college, but unlike college where they just went back to their respective dormitories after a get together, around 11:00 last night they all got up and went back to their respective lives.

It's been a year since I graduated college and a lot has changed, and there have been a few days when I've just started crying, remembering what had been. Which I also did at the beginning of college remember what I had left back home. And as time goes on I will see these people at times that are fewer and far between, but also make new friends.

And on a lighter note, I have to say dammit Lindsay, you took the iHome; I just realized it was gone. However, it's not a surprise; I knew it had to leave one day.  

April 1995.

But for a testament to friends and their place in our lives. It's my best friend Nicole's birthday today; she is 23, which means we have been friends for 17 years. That's insane. Without Nicole I wouldn't have anyone to be nostalgic about my childhood with. Thanks, Nicole, and Happy Birthday.

As you can see, Nicole and I had very similar style as children: hiking boots, stretchy pants, and Disney Character shirts. 

 Now, I just need to go find me a birch tree, so I can climb it's branches. Anyone know where to find one?