I just had one of my best weekends ever, spending it with Natasha! She arrived late Friday night, saying that she had driven all day. She says it’s very hard to stay awake on the road for as long as she did (after all, it’s a 13-hour drive from Chicago to Raleigh), and she doesn’t know how I manage to pull it off. We had a lot of fun the next day.

Saturday started off with a Cubs game, courtesy of Walter (who got the tickets from a good friend of his). Sure, I wish the White Sox were in town, but they were on the road, so I settled for the next-best thing. I’m not a Cubs fan, but some of my friends are, and there’s nothing wrong with that. I do wish the game had a better ending, because the Cubs lost. Too bad. Then I had a jam session with Natasha, who had brought her flute as planned. I accompanied her on the piano, playing every popular song I’ve ever heard on my two favorite Chicago stations (WNUA and WGCI). When I asked Natasha what she was planning to major in, she answered Music Education. I asked her why, and she replied: “Because you taught me everything I know.” I’ll never forget that answer for as long as I’m alive.

Finally, on Sunday, we said our goodbyes, and I wished her the best of luck in Greensboro, the home of NC A&T University. Personally, I don’t know too much about Greensboro, but I plan to visit her every chance I get, and she can show me the city. I know she’ll do well in her studies, and I hope she invites me to her graduation ceremony in 2011. I know my friend Teddy in Charlotte will also start college, and I hope he does well, too. In fact, I think I might take some online courses at the local community college…if only I had decided on a major. The main reason I didn’t pursue a college degree is because I was too busy doing other things, whether it was with my music or working in an office in the Loop. I left Chicago in 2000 to take a similar position in Baltimore, and frankly, I felt scared at first until I met Teddy. I didn’t know anyone in Baltimore, but he was willing to take me under his wing. Then, in 2003, I decided to work from home, just so I could devote more time to my music. Finally, I returned to my hometown in 2006, and I’m now happier than ever. I still keep up with my old friends and acquaintances in Baltimore through MySpace, as well as those in the Research Triangle.

Now that Natasha’s back in Raleigh, she’ll start her new summer job working a part-time receptionist’s job. Then she’ll try to find another part-time job once she gets to Greensboro. By the way, I’ve been invited to her going-away party in Raleigh, so I’ll be sure to make the drive down when it happens. It’ll happen the week before she goes off to A&T, and I have offered to assist her in setting up her dorm. Since I first started working, I haven’t taken any time off for over a week, and everyone I know worries about me burning out, although I still manage to handle it. This may be the only real chance I have this year of getting the much-needed rest and relaxation, focusing instead on my favorite cousin’s preparation to take on the college life. My only advice to her is to enjoy those four years, and take each day nice and slow. So far, my biggest regret is not having the time to study for anything, and now the pressure is becoming too much to handle. Maybe in one more year…

Anyway, good luck, Natasha, and I’ll see you at your going-away party next month!