In Memory of COMO

 12th -13th of March I flew into St. Louis at 1:00am in the morning. With excitement, anxiety, and mind shattering nervousness I walked towards the baggage claim. Waiting right there for me were, six young ladies, papa and mama whom all looked nervous and exhausted. I frankly don’t remember much about what types of emotions I was feeling, but I do remember feeling very emotionally dead. The girls had pulled a prank on me but apparently, I had no reaction whatsoever, and if you know me you know reactions are something that I perform quite well. It was a new place; new people and I was greatly out of my comfort zone. But, till today I am still amazed by how fast 300 E Starla RD became a place I called home. Life in the unit had many many ups and downs. There were moments when I just wanted to pack my bags and go home, but there were many many times moments when I wished that time would stop, and I could live in that moment forever. The unit brings draws out every beautiful and ugly parts of yourself and bares it out for the people that you live with to se. So, you either choose to accept it or fight it. I had an intriguing relationship with scrapbooking…it was fun but also stressful. Mama…. oh, where do I even begin! She is an amazing woman. I couldn’t have asked for a better house mama. Papa, whom I am sure was tired of my silliness by the time it was my turn to go home. But Steven E. is an amazing MAN. From pulling his hamstring because he was chasing the neighbor's dog (this dog is so evil). From driving us everywhere and just having to live with a bunch of girls. During my time in COMO, I lived with 9 girls through the course of 6 months. We were all different but, in our differences, we were able to learn from each other.  But it doesn’t mean there weren’t times when the last person we wanted to see was each other. The unit changes you in ways you can never imagine. Sometimes, I wonder what kind of person would I be if I never went to the unit? I don’t want to find out if it means that I will never have to been able to go to COMO. Exactly a year ago Starla and I left the land of Missouri leaving a part of our hearts there.

This letter I write with love and the spirit of MIZZOU.

See You Later,

Abigael