these are slightly embarrassing, but such a fond and funny memory 2 me that i cannot resist. MY DEAREST ROOMIE will be shipping off to france in a few days and then will be shining bright as ever in graduate school earning her effing PhD!! (this is going to be a long one, where is the read more option on a photoset)

i’m so proud of you and thankful that you were my one true friend throughout everything. you were there for me when my cousin passed away and i didn’t know what to do (i remember trying to act normal and sweep the bedroom. you walked in and hugged me and i never cried so hard, or ever, in front of any my friends like that), i remember when the windex got stuck in the bathroom window and you took pictures of me as i (the shortest person of the apartment) stood on the edge of the tub trying to take it out with a dustpan, i also remember being so angry one night over some dumb thing and we sat in our room listening to the sounds of classical music, a crackling fireplace, and light raindrops - all three of which were youtube videos playing simultaneously on loop, i proudly remember when we first started living together and really underestimated your cooking abilities when you set your hair on fire while making ramen, and i remember not getting out of my computer chair when you yelled for help until i smelled actual hair burning (oops), i remember when i dragged you to visit boys downtown and you kept my secret when i gave one of them a slice of pizza that i had dropped on the street, i remember every single morning when you would half compliment half insult my hair as you watched it go from wild birds nest to semi-tame on the days i took on the challenge of brushing it, i remember all of those nights i kept you up talking about theories i had and you would almost be in tears over how much i annoyed you about the entire universe being just a neuron existing in the mind of another being, i remember how our relationship didn’t even start in college - it started in french class years before that where our foreign language skills were so advanced we could poke fun at smelly and dumb people around us while maintaining a pristine, angelic reputation, i remember when you were back in the homeland for an entire summer and i had to go apartment hunting alone… but your dad and i became best friends and i even accidentally invited him to sushi because i didn’t learn how to properly work my iPhone yet, i remember coming home after class every night and forcing you to tell me what you’ve accomplished that day so i could physically clap it out for you and let you know I’M PROUD, i remember our late nights at the library and how you would literally run home full speed like a maniac leaving me in the dust and dark because my backpack was too heavy to keep up, i remember that day during summer when i forced you to take a bus with me to a meeting and told you to “i don’t know, pick flowers until i got out” and when my half hour meeting turned into almost two hours, you weren’t mad - you had a whole bouquet in your hands waiting for me when i returned, OH but you’re still a child of darkness because i also happen to remember that first day of the semester where i was in sweatpants and you scolded me to change into something proper and that you wouldn’t have a roommate that wore pjs in public hehe, well you did a good job because if i also recall correctly, i stopped wearing sneakers every single day and bought my first pair of flats with you… i could honestly (and probably already did) write a novel about the times and memories i’ve had with you over the past few years, but to pinpoint one memory in particular:

i remember this night at the student center when everyone else was having “fun” in college and we were studying really hard. we were the only ones in that green room. i’ve never had a greater study buddy than you. even though you’re younger than me, you still inspire me and motivate me to keep working hard in a world full of people that depend on shortcuts. most importantly, i like how we remind each other how necessary it is to have pride and to have it often. UGH you’re so lovely nuict i can’t wait to scoop you tomorrow and spend hours telling you how much i love you in person, but i wanted to type all this out so you can idk print it or something and keep it in your wallet for all the travels and experiences you’re going to have. thank you for supporting and believing in me when nobody else (including my mother) did. thank you for always loving me even after we have little breaks of silence due to our busy schedules. thank you for being that mysterious, quiet strength in my life that reminds me i should put myself first. thank you for being that person that works hard alongside me …and also has impromptu photo booth photoshoots. and continues to pose after i surprise her in the window. pride on, girl

Congratulations-- you successfully made a PhD student lose her ability to articulate. You unexpectedly and lovingly surprise me with your words, and you amaze me with the significance that you place on little old me. For someone who has her pride set on maximum capacity, I've become completely humbled by your recollections. I love each and every one of these memories. I love you, for always taking the extra step to warm my heart in ways that no one else can. Every time you gave me a new nickname or created a new scenario full of laughter, I've found myself admiring your creativity, wit, and friendship even more. You have been there for me as I transitioned from a reclusive and confused high schooler to a semi-confident college graduate-- and you're one of the reasons why I was able to make this intense transition in the first place. You've witnessed some of my most important life changes: you were probably the first one to console me when my grandmother passed away last year. You definitely were the first to congratulate me on my acceptance into the doctoral program. And today, as I prepare to pour out my feelings to you yet again, I am certain that you will understand me in a manner that no one else can quite accomplish. Thank you for tolerating me, even though I am terrible with expression and reaching out. Thank you even more for not only accepting me without judgement, but embracing my character as an influential figure in your life. What can be more honorable than that sentiment? I could never hesitate to send you good vibes and well wishes; they pour out so naturally for you. We have joked about being "special snowflakes" many times, but I know that you are absolutely distinct from others. And as fate would have it, I do believe our lives are intertwined in a strange way (two moons forever)-- and I'm very thankful for it. 

"The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any." 

Alexandra Bracken, Never Fade (via bhagyawati)

Yahudi (1958)

An Afghan woman holds a portion of some 10,000 pink balloons handed out by artists and activists in Kabul, May 25, 2013. Each balloon contains a written message of peace. 

"This brings color to Afghanistan and I want to see my people smiling and happy," said 22-year-old Afghan volunteer Nargis Azaryun as she passed out the balloons. "We hope that by giving away 10,000 pink balloons, we will give this city 10,000 ideas of life beyond war."

Ph. Michèle Van Vliet

Asif Ghayaz, Pakistani artist

Pen drawing

Derrick Jensen | Endgame Vol I The Problem of Civilization

(via america-wakiewakie)