August 31, 1995 – Thursday – 10:10 p.m.

Our plans have changed.  I called my mom tonight to let her know that it was only going to be Syndi and I staying at the house this weekend.  Well, that didn’t go over too well with them.  And they wouldn’t let us, so guess where Syndi and I are spending our weekend..

That’s right!  Deep Creek!!

This is amazing!  I will be able to make it this year.  I will keep my tradition and I will stand over the river next to Pizza Hut and stare out at that never-changing scene.  Syndi will be at my side.  We will hike, we will tube, go to Cherokee and drive go-karts. We will have the time of our lives.

I mentioned something tonight over the phone about how my mom will see us as good friends and like Syndi just for that.  She said that my mom will probably think we are dating since the rest of the campus does.  And what surprised me most is that it doesn’t bother her.  She likes being associated with me.

There are three waterfalls at Deep Creek.  Syndi and I will see them all.  Together we have only see three.  So after this weekend is over, our total will be six.

Four special days…

In the beginning of September…

In a place where I met a girl..

Whom I spent four special days with…

In the of August.

It’s been a month and Emily hasn’t written.

She is an angel to another.

Perhaps I can be a prince to another.

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August 31, 1995 – Thursday – 11:45 a.m.

It is the last day of August.

I am supposed to meet Syndi in 15 minutes for lunch.  Last night she and I had a craving for cookies, so at 10:30 p.m. we drove to Newland, but the grocery store was closed so we went all the way to Boone and got back around midnight.  It was just the two of us, roaming the High Country with no purpose at all.  James thinks we are together and that is why he’s had some problems.  He’s never had a girlfriend and he is almost 20-years-old.  He’s seems really depressed.

Syndi said something like, “Let’s do such and such together since we are supposed to be dating…at least according to James.

She asked me earlier if I would meet her for lunch and dinner.

Oh well, I’m in college!  Let’s just have a little fun with this situation.  I have no idea where this is going, but I’m sure the two of us will have the greatest time this weekend.

August 29, 1995 – Tuesday – 11:15 p.m.

Another day!

I’ve been having some trouble with James.  Syndi and I both have.  But it is all over with now, so I’m not going to bore myself with the details.  In short, he is acting very selfish and immature about Syndi and myself, plus a few other things.

We have no classes this Monday, thanks to Labor Day.  Syndi mentioned wanting to go to the zoo.  Since we have a long weekend she and I plan to go to my house this weekend and then go to the zoo on Saturday.  My parents are going to be away, visiting Deep Creek with my grandparents, so it looks like it’ll just be Syndi and myself.  And truthfully, I hope so.

Tonight I had a rehearsal for Antigone.  Originally, I was the Sentry, but tonight Dr. D. also gave me the role of the Messenger.  So, my role in Antigone has doubled!  That pleased me!  And today I called Regent University in Virginia Beach.  They are going to send me some information.  I talked to a woman named Elinor.  So many doors have opened.

God is simply great!  I’m only a sophomore, yet I feel like I know where the Lord is leading me after graduation.

Thank you for everything Father!

August 28, 1995 – Monday – 8:10 p.m.

Today has been a good day.

I got the role of the sentry in Antigone.  I was also cast for some directing scenes.

I had fun in all my theater classes today and Charlie and I went out to eat in Boone.  I haven’t seen Syndi at all today.  I talked to her a few times over the phone.  I felt a little weird this evening because she accidentally mentioned that she slept with her ex-boyfriend Eric when they were together.  It hurt me because I care for her.  I don’t think I’ve ever liked a girl that wasn’t a virgin before.  In fact, I may care too much for Syndi.

But look at me.  Look at me and Jeni.  Jeni and I might not have ever had sex, but we were too intimate.  In God’s eyes, is it the same sin?

I have been forgiven, and so can she.

Rehearsals for Antigone start tomorrow night.

This thing with Syndi will probably hurt in the long run, but I can’t help but care for her.

Good night.

August 27, 1995 – Sunday – 10:15 p.m.

A year since the storm.

However, it did rain today.

And Syndi and I found another waterfall.  Except we stood on top of this one.

We spent the whole day together.  I asked her last night if she would like to come to church with me.  She did and she said she enjoyed it.  She sang the songs and she read the Bible with me.  She was smiling.  We were both hungry, so after the service we went to the Banner Elk Cafe and I bought us breakfast.  Penny was our waitress.  She is the sweetest girl.

Then we drove to Wildcat Lake and walked out across the dam there.  We were on top of a waterfall.  We spent about an hour or so there.  She took ahold of my hand as we walked.  She held it so tight with our fingers intertwined.  We picked lily pad flowers and gave them to each other.

We went back to campus and ate lunch.  Other guys wanted us to sit with them, but she wanted us to sit alone at a separate table.  After lunch, we went to her room.  She played with my hair and I did some homework.  We laughed, smiled, and talked about so many things.  I spent the entire afternoon in her room.

James and Curt came over.  She laid next to me and put her head on my chest.  I laid my hand on her waist.  I asked her if she wanted to go to church with me again tonight.  She said yes.  She had a better time than this morning.  She wanted to help me find the scriptures in the Bible.  She smiled the whole time.

After church, we worked out in the gym then went to her room.  I spent some time there and then came back here.

James is bummed.  He is jealous.  He is left out.  He sounds really depressed.  He had a huge crush on Syndi all last year.  He’s always adored Julia Roberts and Syndi is the spitting image of Julia Roberts.  A beautiful, tall, curvy body with a huge, bright smile.

I try to help James, but he won’t let me.

. . .

Syndi just called me a few minutes ago while I was writing.  She just wanted to talk some more.  She is wonderful.  She hugged me when I left tonight.  She held my hand when we prayed in church.

She is special.

I claim her for the Kingdom of God!  You cannot have her Satan!  I claim this in Jesus’ name!!

Thank you Father.  Before she grows close to me, I pray she grows close to you.

August 26, 1995 – Saturday – 11:35 p.m.

An amazing day!

Auditions went okay.  I had fun with it.  I took a break for lunch and found Syndi in the cafeteria.  We sat together and had a nice talk.  This evening after dinner, we (Syndi, James, a new guy named Todd, and myself) spent time in my room.  I had the Performing Arts department’s video camera, so I recorded us just talking and hanging out.  Charlie called and asked me if I wanted to go over to Nebel Hall and play spoons with him, Kate, and Stofka.  It seems that this morning, Kate realized that she had a good thing when she had Charlie, so some things have changed and they are together again.

Syndi, James, Todd, and I went to play spoons.  It was the greatest!  But afterwards, we came back here.  Syndi and I were lying on the bed while James and Todd were watching TV.  I then turned and looked at this beautiful girl lying across from me.  She looked at me.  And for what seemed like 30 minutes, we didn’t look away.  We smiled and laughed, but we kept looking at each other, not saying a word.  She eventually took a hold of my hand and rubbed it and told me how soft my skin was.

But James began to act weird, so he left and Syndi decided she should go back to her room.

I asked Syndi if she wanted to go to church with me tomorrow.  She said yes.

Something is happening.

But I’m not saying anything.  I’m actually holding back.  It takes so much strength for me to keep my arms by my side.  It seems like they belong around her.

I believe I’m going to go for a walk.

Simply to pray for this girl.

That God will let his heavenly water fall upon her.

August 25, 1995 – 11:58 p.m.

What a day!  So many things happened.

I went to Boone with Clifton, Jason, Crystal and some of her friends.  We had an okay time.  We saw Mortal Kombat.  It wasn’t that great, but they did make the movie in some amazing locations.

But the sad news is that Angela is going back home for good and Charlie broke up with Kate tonight.

Perhaps I will go into detail in these areas.  Perhaps not.

I am tired.  I just got back from hanging out with Syndi.  She invited me to her room tonight.

And she was already in her pajamas.

Silk pajamas.

She was gorgeous.

Auditions are tomorrow.

And I can tell already that this year will bring a lot of change.

August 25, 1995 – Friday – 10:15 a.m.

Last night was interesting.

Convocation was last night.  Syndi and James and I went together.  She wore the most beautiful dress.  But it was very low cut and her beautiful body was exposed.  And for some reason, I wished she was more covered up.  We sat next to each other and wrote notes to back and forth, etc.  I got some looks from people saying, “Are you two together?”

We went to Diary Queen after the convocation and had ice cream.  We all came back to my room and took some pictures.  Then after our hall meetings we went to Wildcat Lake and played on the swings and then drove around to just take in the beautiful mountains and do our best to get lost.

I pray for Syndi.

I pray she finds the Lord.

But I need to be careful.  I cannot fall for this girl.  She is beyond my reach.  Yet, I have held her.  I have touched her.  I have walked with her.  She pours her dreams and problems out to me.

I guess I was right.

Another girl came along.

August 24, 1995 – Thursday – 10:45 a.m.

I went to two classes this morning.  Art Appreciation and Computers.  I have one more at three o’clock.

Today, after my Art Appreciation class, I went to the Chaffee Building to talk to the Director of Financial Aid.  After our conversation I headed back out and there I saw Syndi.  Her red hair was down, flowing as she walked.  She looked at me and smiled, but couldn’t talk.  She has a soar throat.  We walked a little ways together.  I told her some things and she just smiled really big.  That bright red hair and no voice!  She was just like Ariel!

We talked for about 45 minutes on the phone last night.  It’s so great knowing she is here.  I want to help her.  I want to show her Jesus.

I have found myself thinking about her.  I have found myself wanting to hold her.  Hold her like I held her during the midnight hours of May 7th and 8th.

She asked me about Emily.  I told her.  She tells me about her Eric.  But she says she is leaving after this semester to go to a University in Tampa.

While walking yesterday, we came across a beautiful home for sale.  She pointed to it and said that would be our house one day.  Every flower she saw she picked and gave it to me.

But she needs and wants a friend who will take care of her.

And that friend is me.

Syndi.  My little mermaid.

She is, and forever will be, special.

August 23, 1995 – Wednesday – 11:20 p.m.

I am on duty again!  I am covering for Shawn.

Classes began today.  Two of mine didn’t meet today.  Ballet and Acting met.  They seemed fun.

Syndi and I spent some time together today.  We went to the park down the road and played on the swings, then we went into some small stores and went rock hopping down Elk River.  There were times when I would reach out to hold her hand and help her across.  Being so close and hearing the rushing water; it all seemed so right.  We spent over three hours together today.  There was a party tonight, but because of me, she told me she wasn’t going to go.  I am proud of her.  She seems to be doing well.

James seems a bit jealous.  But he is okay.

I talked to Amy and Angela some today as well.

I also met a girl today named Jennifer.  She is in my acting class.  I ran into while at Food Lion with Charlie.

Everything is just swell!