I just really, really, really wanna remember all the freakin amazing things that have happened in 2017.I wanna remember finding Milky Chance tickets the day before their concert, and how it became one of the best concerts of my life. I wanna remember that beyond amazing harmonica solo by Antonio Greger that I may never forgive myself for not recording. The one that literally made me think to myself “this is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard in my life”.I wanna remember when the fire alarm went off, and 40-some 18 year olds sprinted down Main Street and sped off to IHOP. I wanna remember playing solitaire in the upstairs room while everyone else dozed off together, each nuzzled up against lifelong friends. I wanna remember that small group who trekked to the jetty to witness the sunrise that next morning.I wanna remember that night I met all those crazy Aussies and how welcomed I felt. I wanna remember Mason and Dan and Max. I want to remember how Mason asked us to go with him, but how our plane left in just 4 hours. I want to remember how I didn’t want to go home, how I just wanted to stay in that moment with these friends forever.I wanna remember that 6 mile hike near Cape Schanck with Jemma and Lucy. And the blister that haunted me for a month afterwards.I wanna remember “what I thought was gonna be the death of me was my saving grace”.I wanna remember swimming in the Atlantic before the sun had came up that one morning with Clay. I want to remember those deep conversations on the front balcony, overlooking a hazy oceanfront and dreaming about how college would change us.I wanna remember sprinting across the football field, hand in hand with strangers at Playfair. I wanna remember the JK fan club.I wanna remember screaming Ed Sheeran lyrics at the top of our lungs, joining in unison with thousands of strangers. I want to remember “dive” and “happier” and “galway girl”, and how I sat quietly giggling to ‘That 70’s Show’ on the way back to the dorm that night. And how excited I got when I saw exit 245.I want to remember laughing so hard we cried when “Oozma Kappa” performed “What does the D in D hall stand for?” at NSR. I want to remember the flashbacks to Camp Silver Beach when we were looking at the stars. I want to remember jamming to “Dancing in the Moonlight” and “September” in Lily’s BMW.I wanna remember picking wildflower bouquets with Emma and Sarah Katherine. I wanna remember dancing on top of ISAT to ‘high school musical 3’ with the Hoffman girls, as the sun set over the mountains.I want to remember the complete surrender I felt when praying for the people that had hurt me, that one time at large group.I want to remember sprinting across the quad, handfuls of bright pigment being launched every which way, as a cloud of color covered us. I want to remember crying on the roof top of Top Dog with Lily, marveling at the stars and mean boys and God’s goodness.I wanna remember jamming to “rich girl” with Ben and Sarah on those dark country roads. I wanna remember exploring those tunnels in the dark, right after the movie “it” came out. But chanting Khalid and Celine Dion the whole way through them.I wanna remember discovering the best Starbucks drink in the world with Colin (its a venti w/ 3 shots of espresso + milk + ice). I wanna remember Julia throwing a piece of chocolate at my face.I wanna remember reciting “She’s the Man” verbatum with Julia and Emma, hot chocolate in hand, annoying the rest of our small group. I wanna remember playing sardines in Memorial, then laying in bed all day on college game day.I want to remember riding on the motorcycle in pursuit of sticky nuggs, and talking about traveling and future plans. I want to remember that morning photoshoot, when we actually missed the sunrise and almost got locked inside a stairwell.I want to remember the Kelly Clarkson mosh pit at Melrose, and the HUGE rush of excitement when Josh fell back off the railing.I wanna remember how scared I was to walk into that Christmas party. But also how thankful I was that I did, once I was driving home giddy after midnight.I want to remember the many, many Les Mis, Mamma Mia, and Grease duets with Julia in the car on our way to Ophelia.I wanna remember crying over Frank Sinatra and Paul Anka serenades and waking up way too early for as many sunrises as possible.I wanna remember the deep stomach kind of pain that came with sobbing that night. But the overwhelming joy that quickly filled my heart.I wanna remember that I spent the last moments of 2017 curled up with Meredith on her sister’s bed, sharing our gratefulness for each other. Because as painful as this year had been, there was joy that overflowed. Blessings that came by surprise. And many moments I never, ever want to forget.Here’s to 2018.xx abs