Gradumacating

My sister graduated from the University of Chicago this weekend. I don't know if I've ever mentioned how much my sister means to me. Seeing her graduate (with honors!) was so emotional for me. I never cry at ceremonies or movies or when I read books or anything, but I cried twice. I'm so proud of her.

She got a degree in political science, but since I've moved here and been all "Blah blah following my dreams blah blah," she's decided to go into music. My sister was a really passionate cellist and composer until she graduated from high school and went to UChicago. Literally everyone in my family told her not to go into music, and rather to go into business or law. I think my coming to Chicago has had a big impact on her life. I'm so glad that I can be there for her and I'm so glad she has the courage to do what she wants to do now, because she's so brilliant; she could do whatever she wants, and doesn't deserve to be unhappy just so that my family approves of her career choice.

At breakfast this morning she was talking about her future plans and my grandma was all, "Well make sure you get a good job; you want a lot of money, don't you?" My family is so materialistic it's disgusting. The goal of life is not to get as rich as possible, kthnx. And it really irks me that they seem to do this only to my sister, who just wants my family to be proud of her. She's been fucking amazing at everything she's ever done, can't you just have faith in her and let her do what she wants? Ugh.

I can imagine how scary life must be for her right now. Last night I was in her boyfriend Ben's apartment, "The Mallard," as it was infamously Christened. The home of the Gordian Knot and five awesome dudes. It was completely empty. Everyone else had already packed up and bolted. I looked at the mural on the wall and realized I would never see it again. I have some great memories in that apartment, I can't imagine how my sister and Ben feel to be leaving it.