Did you all miss me? I missed writing. Over the past two weeks, I’ve thought, “Wow! I could blog about this!” about a dozen times.

It’s been an interesting few weeks, from the firestorm surrounding Sarah Palin (more on that in a coming post) to hurricanes to Obama’s acceptance speech. But, in all honesty, I’ve been more focused on my own life the past few days.

I began freshmen orientation last Wednesday, classes started on Tuesday and being at college still feels surreal. I keep waiting for my parents to come pick me up and bring me home. That won’t be happening until Columbus Day weekend.

So where does that leave me? Trying to make friends. I talked to my best friend from high school the other day and said, “I feel like I’m back in kindergarten. I call my mom and tell her that I made a friend and expect her to applaud me.”

I haven’t had to set out to really make friends in a long time. I started kindergarten (and in some cases pre-k) with the same kids I graduated high school with. I’ve spent the last few years developing deeper friendships, not creating them. So I’m in a little over my head. I haven’t needed this skill set in a while.

I figured I’d find myself walking a fine line of wanting everyone to like me, but still being myself all the time. Do I mention my more embarrassing moments, like the time I fell out of a lifeguard chair? Or do I pretend it never happened?

Do I admit that I have parts of Harry Potter memorized? Or that I was one of those people who watched the Obama vice presidential stakeout? Where would I draw the line?

It turns out I didn’t draw the line. I decided it was more important for everyone to like me. The real me. The klutzy, Harry Potter-loving political junkie that I am. So far, it’s working out all right.

I’m by no mean Miss Popularity, but I’m meeting people that I like and - equally as important - that I think like me. So I’m getting there. Slowly but surely, I’m plodding along.