"Most people listen to rock n’ roll, others read about it and some actually have the lunacy to write about it.”- Mike Saunders
So, it's finished. 18,275 words all devoted to the service of not really proving anything conclusive. My contention that labels influence rock journalism more than they did in the 1960s. My reply? Are you sure about that? It saves you reading the whole thing that way. I doubt many people would at the end of the day.
That's what's so painful about today - realizing a grand total of 10 people in the entire world will read what I had to write and I'll get a piece of paper that will represent the one-third contribution to what it actually stands for. I'll get (read: rent) a cool mortarboard (for an afternoon), but that's not the point.
Anyone in academia will know about the loneliness and isolation the pursuit of intellectual interrogation brings. For the past six months I've mostly stared at words on a screen and a blinking cursor. As I was talking to the very funny guys of the Four Horsemen program on BlogTalkRadio today, I realized I'd have to go through a steady period of re-socialization, despite keeping up Hapkido classes and other routine meetings. I've not had time for meeting new people or keeping track of old friends since every activity that wasn't devoted to the completion of the thesis felt like a luxury.
It's a feeling of emptiness - I almost don't want to let go and move on. It's consumed me for such a long time (well, it feels that way) it'll take some adjusting to the real world once it's actually handed in on June 20th. I'm thinking of having a graduation party - I very much hope connecting with friends both old and new will revitalize me from this six month hellride. But the feeling of relief? Indescribable. Thank fuck this is over.