We can't seem to escape it..

I was talking to my friend, Dani, today and we got on the subject of me being Jewish (because Caitlin, of course, made a comment about it today; She's fixated on Judaism). We were talking about my mezuzah when, all of a sudden, she says: "Oh my gosh, did you hear what happened in Southwest [residential area]?"

I shook my head and gave her a shifty-eyed look. "Well, my friend has a mezuzah up on her doorpost, too [in Southwest] and she decided to move it to the inside because her whole hallway got vandalized."

You know when you get that feeling in the pit of your stomach--like there's a heavy stone sitting in there? I was pretty much feeling that when I asked her to explain herself further. She went on to say that swastikas were spraypainted all over the hallway she lived in along with various antisemitic phrases; That they had actually closed her floor's lounge pending cleaning because the phrases spraypainted therein where so offensive and disgusting. Because, obviously, now her friend somewhat fears for her safety, she has now removed her mezuzah and replaced it inside her room.

Security is pretty tight on our building: you need to swipe a card to get in the front door and all other exit/entrance doors are alarmed from 8pm-8am. That being said, I'm fairly certain we don't have any antisemites in the building, so my mezuzah is staying put. I'm just disgusted and worried. A few days ago, I called mama to check in with her and she mentioned an article that she read in one of her magazines about the best Universities for Jewish students; UMass was #3, yet this still happens.

Moving on: I got an interesting letter today in the mail.

It was from my ex-boyfriend. Not my most recent; One that I had kind of remained in contact with, but not really. It was pretty long but the basic sentiment was this: He regrets ever letting me go (mentions that my moving away made him realize it), wants to marry me (I'm pretty sure he's 22, now), and he made sure to mention that he wants me to bear his children. I nearly DIED laughing when I read that part. Oh, and also, included in the envelope was a ring. Not an engagement ring, a promise ring (still would mean I "belonged" to someone; promise rings are more simple and modest and the first step toward engagement); he hoped that I would "promise" to come home to him.

So how do I respond to this? I'm going to put the promise ring in a small envelope and mail it back to him, without so much as a note. The whole situation is ridiculous; I don't need this kind of drama right now.

And in more interesting news:

Liz is probably the most awesome person on the face of the earth and, if I were to marry anyone right now, it would definitely be her (it's a joke you guys, calm down). We rough-house and cling to each other a lot; We have spectacular wrestling matches and tapioca fights when we get pearl tea in Amherst center, we go on midnight adventures to the vending machines in the basement, we shower at the same time (in separate stalls, you perverts) and have hilarious conversations back and forth while we do..

Yeah. We're awesome (and a little bit weird possibly, but whatev).

I don't think I'll be able to sleep tonight; I've been literally worrying myself sick. I suppose I'll try, though.