Cars swiftly passing by as I sit here on a bench awaiting my bus to go home. Despite me wearing warm inner clothing, it isn't helping much during this cold night as the chilly gusts of wind hits my face like a constant slap. I'm in a mood. Not in a funk, let me be clear on that. It's weird. I'm a bit relieved but at the same time bittersweet.
It was a long day today. Deadline Tuesday coming off thanksgiving weekend and it's our last issue. We all worked hard through the day and I'm wondering if anyone else felt a looming dread that this experience will soon be coming to an end. This semester with The Roundup newspaper had its ups and downs inside and outside of the newsroom. But when all is said and done, we all did our best and I speak for myself when I say I'm proud of our work. I'm quite sure everyone else feels the same way.
It won't be the same next semester. Some people are leaving and some are staying. New blood coming in and respected members leaving. I'm interested to see what next semester brings. I'm excited for our new EIC and managing editor coming in yet I'm saddened that the current EIC will be leaving. He's put a lot of blood, sweat and tears throughout his tenure. It's somewhat apt that his anniversary date of him becoming EIC is a few days away. We still have the rest of this week and next week will be our banquet and finals. After that, I will miss my colleagues, nay, friends, until February when the Spring 2014 semester starts.
We technically missed deadline today but we made it to print by 4pm. I had to leave immediately to get to work and I wanted to give a proper goodbye to everyone in the newsroom but I kept it simple and quick since I didn't want anyone to see I was at a breaking point, saddened by reaching the end.
On my way out, I was greeted by a fairly cloudy sky but a break in the clouds made way for a scarlet sunset. As I walked into the sunset, I threw on my headphones to hear a song I come up on my mix that I haven't heard in a long time and since my exit from the newsroom, it's been on repeat as the beauty in this song is so powerful. It was a nice tune to leave something behind even if for a short while.
Before starting this entry, I decided to google the translated lyrics of this song as it is in Spanish. It tells the story of a man that fell in love, out of, and back into, with a woman. He sings that the experience they both shared left an endearing and eternal taste on each other's soul. Despite them being apart, the speaking of her in memories would suffice for him. He ends the song with a humility I can relate to.
I think I got the meaning close. The more I think about it, the more I feel like this song can be just about anything and everything happening within my sphere. Why it just happened to play as I was leaving the newsroom is beyond me. Maybe some odd coincidence. Whatever I felt leaving the newsroom that left me empty, I felt right as rain as I smiled walking across the always muddy soccer field of a Pierce College while listening to this song.