Please allow me to commence with a formal apology to my three regular readers for my lack of posts. I promise I have a good excuse. Actually, I have five excuses. Let me introduce you to each of them. Before we begin those introductions I warn you it's about to get sentimental and sappy up in here.
My first excuse is Paige. Some have called us the "Dynamic Duo". Ok, that was one person one time, but still. First it was just the two of us. Here we are with the our winning Easter bucket.
Then we joined forces with Alex and Taylor. (Yes, Alex is my fellow Australian Planetear who went to the cast party with me). Panera beckoned us to eat and bond with each other. After that night Alex and Taylor became my second and third excuses.
The fourth excuse for my lack of posts is Drew. We attempted to go to Cracker Barrel (aka Crapper Barrel, Crack Barrel, Cracked Barrel), but ended up at Applebee's after a brief stop at Orange World and couple of games of Checkers.
And finally my fellow Ariel loving, Lexi, became my fifth excuse. I'm not entirely sure of when she became part of our world, but I'm glad she did.
Paige, Alex, Taylor, Drew, Lexi and I are six puzzle pieces brought together by the Disney College Program. Together the six of us played Cards Against Humanity so often that "Seeing Grandma naked" was expected, but the appearance of "A tiny horse" was still hilarious to me in any situation. Drew also introduced us to Spicy Uno, which is mild Uno, but with added slapping and stealing.
Our most frequented hang out spots became the break room at Pizza Planet, other Disney property and each other's apartments. It was at Drew's apartment that we became friends with his housemates.
Time spent with them involved playing cards, watching three quarters of the final Harry Potter movie and being teased about the way I say "no". Apparently I have a weird accent.
Sometimes the six of us would separate, but thanks to Alex's introduction of emu hands we could always find each other. Our arms in the sky with our hands like emu mouths helped us find each other. We wondered if our hands could get much higher.
Together the six of us looked unbelievably attractive in our costumes,
celebrated birthdays,
partied in Typhoon Lagoon,
and gallavanted across four parks in one day.
We made our final Wishes and then huddled in a circle so we wouldn't forget the moment.
Some of us painted our faces,
got so close to The Veronicas during their sound check that they called us "cute girls",
scored temporary tattoos,
found friendship bracelets
and created a CD of songs to remind us our time together.
Goodbyes are always difficult, but farewelling Taylor and Drew was beyond. Puzzle pieces fracturing off, knowing Paige's absence would be upon us soon. That last sentence seems a little dramatic, but imagine six people arrive at the airport and only four leave. It wasn't the premise of a terrible new reality series, it was our reality. At the airport their were tears, hugs, the attempted fixing of Drew's suitcase zippers and shared memories of tossing salads.
The most insignificant fraction of me suggests never becoming so close, with such a large amount of people, in such a short space of time. You should also definitely avoid spending all day with them. The rest of me says if you find other puzzle pieces that unexpectedly and beautifully complete your puzzle you should hold them in your arms as long as the College Program will allow, and in your heart forever. Even though the six puzzle pieces may never physically be joined again, we will always belong to the same puzzle... and to the same group chat. I love you all, my Pizza Planetears. Keep holdin' it down. xoxo
