Walking and Talking
April 11th, 2025
Writer: Hailey Brandt
Editor: Alexa Kessler
When thinking of “yellow moments” that I experience daily, my walks through campus instantly come to mind. While I love taking in the beauty of Ann Arbor, randomly running into friends, and enjoying a sunny day during the winter, these aren’t what make my campus walks extra special to me.
If you spot me with AirPods in, you could assume I am on the phone with my sleepaway camp friend, Vada. On a random day in 2019, I called Vada for the first time on my five-minute walk home from high school. Ever since then, I have called her on all of my walks where we have discussed every aspect of our lives, ranging from the quality of today’s matcha to overly detailed weekend debriefs, to genuine and serious topics that only we could help each other through.
I am from New York, while Vada is from Miami, meaning that the majority of our time spent together has been during the 7-week camp sessions. Those summers, in combination with a sprinkling of reunions when we can, means we have probably just over 6 months together in person in the span of our 6+ years of friendship. Our in-person memories have been nothing short of awesome. My adventures with Vada are my favorite: endless hours in our summer cabin, road tripping through the Midwest, family trips, and even a surprise visit for a rival football game. Though we don’t see each other often, she is one of the people I speak to the most. It’s amazing knowing that her advice, funny insights, and ears to listen to all my chatter are literally in my back pocket. Although there is not always much to update each other, there is no one else I would rather exist in silence with.
Maintaining such a tight long-distance friendship is hard, but having this kind of bond has allowed me to understand the importance and gift that is having friends that I can trust and depend on in my life; and I look for a piece of our special bond in all the relationships I make along the way.
Having this long-distance connection with Vada has brought a sense of gratitude for those nearby here in Michigan. I am very lucky to have spent my sophomore year living in a quad in my sorority house where we “bool”. Booling is hanging out, relaxing, or doing nothing. Booling is an excuse to put off homework, have a girls’ night in, and something to look forward to at the end of the day. So, whether I am walking and talking with my long-distance best friend or simply “booling” with my roommates here at school. So to all of the people I am lucky enough to call mine, both near and far, I love you all, and thank you!!!!
