Shoryuhai, the short version

[tarigwaemir]

Lowell House, on the Feast of Sts. Epipodius and Alexander

Dear world, never have I loved you more. I will elaborate more in a longer post later, but because the joy cannot be contained, here are the salient points:

1. On Saturday, for the team tournament, Harvard not only made it out of preliminaries for the first time since 2004, it also went all the way to the semifinal round, bringing back a third place trophy. I wasn't on the A team that made it there, but oh, I don't think I've had a happier moment in all four years of college. Eva and I cheered for the team all the way through and screamed really loudly whenever they scored a point. (Despite my many years in fandom, I don't think I've actually produced that sort of noise for any person or character before. Now I know the true meaning of "squee".)

2. Today, I won my first round match in the individuals tournament. It went into overtime and took (I was told) a total of ten and a half minutes, but I won by scoring a hiki-dou at the end. This is the first time I've scored a point in and won an official tournament shiai. Yes, I'm totally eating my own words from my last (rather emo) post.

My instinct is to wax melodramatic and say, "I can die happy now." I'll resist the urge, but oh, I feel as if I can finally graduate without any regrets. Which only serves to show how much kendo has consumed my life in college. But you know, I made it. We made it. (And before I launch into further dramatics, I'll stop myself here now and exult quietly instead.)

To the handful of kendo people who read this journal (I would write out your LJ names, but I'm too lazy): I HEART YOU ALL. <3

Yours &c.

Post-script: Oh my gosh, senior sendoff in two weeks. AGH.

Comments

[ldmoonflower.livejournal.com]

Congratulations!

[lacewood]

Whoo! Congratulations! XDXDXD

[emblem.livejournal.com]

!!!! That's so fantastic, I'm so happy for you <333333 Congratulations!

[klio911.livejournal.com]

i will repeat: i am SOOOO proud of you. that was the coolest thing i've ever seen. that, and seeing a team of kiddies that both you and i helped train demolish two west coast teams-- phenomenal.
<3<3<3<3<3

[troisroyaumes]

XDDDDD I am SO proud of them. To think that two of them only joined up last year! So much love for the kiddies. <3

And it was so awesome seeing you again, even if only for a short while. XD

[lawnmower-elf.livejournal.com]

**hugs** You were amazing. I say you have nothing to worry about for senior send-off (save Kofi's "surprise") as long as you kiai and pretend you're in a match XD.

And there were so many 300 references during the past two days alone that I've assimilated.

...This is Spartaaaaaaaa!

[troisroyaumes]

XD Well, I'm still running just in case. Who knows what this mysterious surprise is? What if they somehow discover an antigravity device in two weeks and I have to, I don't know, do kendo in midair? (...Obviously I've read Ender's Game too many times in high school.)

I predict that the 300 references will continue to be a running joke in the club for a long while to come.

"This is madness! Madness? This is...HARVARD!" XD

[jaebi-lit.livejournal.com]

Congratulations!

And no, no, you are not allowed to die happy now. You are supposed to live happy now!