A Love Letter

Dear Madison,

I am one of the luckiest people in the world just from spending time with you. You are an incredible city full of some of the most outstanding people I've ever met and/or come in contact with.

You've taught me an amazing amount about life and myself, whether it was positive or negative. The times I've had with you have literally been the best times of my life and I'm very sad to leave you.

The farmer's market every Saturday, Mickie's Dairy Bar after a night of drinking, all the different bars, game days (no matter: football, basketball, hockey etc.), the new, old, and amazing friends, the concert scene, the terrace, Bascom hill (as long as you're not running up and down it!), two Champs Sports Bowls, three Rose Bowls, and of course my education here. You have made me who I am today and I can't believe my time (for now) with you is over.

Being a part of this city, even if it was just for five years, has made me one of the happiest people in the world! I can't believe I'm leaving to follow my dreams by making movies, but everyone is extremely supportive and wonderful about it all. I am unbelievably excited to go to Washington DC, but am and will always have a longing for Madison.

As a city it is one of the most unique places you can visit. The atmosphere every day is just amazing. There is always something going on! And on top of that you have football game days on Saturdays, which has been touted as the best college sports town by many people, and I obviously cannot agree more. This Sports Illustrated article says everything and more about what I think of this town on game day: 
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2003/sioncampus/09/10/top_ten0916/

And being in the band has aided my love of this city and this school. I don't know how I'm going to enjoy DC as much as I have enjoyed Madison, but somehow I know I'll find a way. It's going to be strange having to start over with brand new friends and brand new experiences, but I plan to make the best of it.

My friends here have been the best of my whole life and I cannot wait to come back and visit! Or see some out in DC or wherever any of them are. You have all made me who I am today and I am proud of everything you're doing. I'm also very grateful for the support and love you have shown me and couldn't be happier with the amount of friends I have. You're all incredible and don't EVER forget that.

I've always known I would leave you Madison, but am a very lucky man to have had the time that I've had with you and will never ever forget all things you've done for me. I will always remember my times in Madison as some of the best of my life. I know many people say that about their time in college, but they don't know what they're talking about unless they went to the University of Wisconsin Madison.

Thank you for the nights you took care of me. The countless game days I was a part of (and of course will be a part of for the rest of my life). The friends I've made through you. The incredibly unforgettable days and nights through you. The education I received from living in Madison. I feel like I'm the luckiest man in the world. And it will always come back to this city. I cannot express how much I'm going to miss this town enough. You are simply the best. Washington DC has a lot to live up to, but strangely enough I think it might. I will never have the same experiences as I did in Madison and I love that. You are an incredible and amazing city and cannot wait to come back and visit as often as I can.

Thank you for taking care of me for the last five years. From one capital to another! I will always hold a special place in my heart for Wisconsin, but 95% of that place is reserved for Madison. I love the friends I've made here, all the different experiences I've had, and of course you, the city itself. I'm undeniably one of the luckiest people ever (if I haven't explained that enough yet) and I can't wait to "brainwash" my children into being diehard Badger fans to the point that they can't go anywhere else, but Wisconsin. I love love love love love LOVE you. I am sad to leave you, but you've done an indelible amount of work on me and for that I say thank you.

We never say goodbye, but simply we'll see you real soon, AND ON, WISCONSIN.

Band

 There's no easy way for me to start this. The day that has always been in the back of my head has finally become reality. The day I officially end my time with the UW marching band.

I was born and raised a Badger and I'll never forget my time here. As a child I would fall asleep to a tape of my mother singing "If You Want to Be a Badger," "Hot Time," "Songs to Thee Wisconsin," and of course "On, Wisconsin." Call it brainwashing. Call it whatever you want. I know that those nights instilled in me a desire, which grew into a need, to be a badger even as a young child.

I can't summarize the feelings I have for this band and know I will forget something along the way, but I'm reliving every moment I can.

Being in band has given me some of the best experiences of my life. It all started with reg week. As a freshman you have no idea what to expect or how tough you have to be to make it. And once you're in, buckle up for one of the best rides of your life. There are ups and downs. Tough times and sad times, but mostly great times.

The pride I have for this university stems from this band. Everything has led to this. Riding your bike through rain, sleet, snow, wind, and even extreme heat, just to get to practice. Riding home during reg week and your legs cramping. Playing "On, Wisconsin" more times than you'll ever dream possible, but never getting sick of it. Getting chills every time you play "Varsity," solely because 80,000 badgers are singing along with you. Working your ass off every rehearsal. In any weather. Waking up early for game day practices only building the anticipation of the coming game. Then heading home and seeing some students already awake and drinking. Others asleep in their beds. Until small groups from the band blast a lively early morning rendition of our favorite song.

Playing for screaming fans all across the state and country. Gigs, volleyball, hockey, football and basketball games. Following my beloved team everywhere they go. Through road trips to other Big Ten universities, Big Ten championships, playing in Lambeau Field. Flying to bowl games and basketball games. Any time spent on a bus being filled with offensive jokes, stories, limericks, and general tomfoolery. Border wars, the light game, spider monkey, anything to keep us busy (not doing homework). The other bands we "meet" and like hate.

Wearing badger red everyday, in one way or another. Whether it's a T-shirt, sweatshirt, sweatpants, a cardinal red sweater that you've sweat in countless times, or a wool uniform. A uniform that brings pride to you every time you wear it. Walking to Camp Randall and having everybody cheer, ask you to play a song, try and give you a beer, or ask to take a picture with you. The dirty run-on chant, screaming "eat a rock" moments before taking the field, hearing fans cheer when "the University of Wisconsin marching band" is announced as we march down the field playing On, Wis. Watching the student section sing and do all the motions to "If You Want to Be a Badger." Watching number one teams fall by the wayside as my team crushes them and sends them home crying.

I can't write something like this without mentioning my friends and family. Thank you. The friends I have made have become some of the best I've ever had. Thank you for everything. To the only rank I've ever known, I don't know what I would've done without you. Hearing a mispronounced version of my last name the first day of real practice only led to a second family. Thank you rank 18. We're the best.

And finally, spending every moment of every band function trying to please an old man. An old man who became more than I ever thought he would to me. He's a mentor, a teacher, and a friend. He became a second father to me. Taught me a lot about myself, helped me grow, and oftentimes treated me as his own flesh and blood. The amount of gratitude and love I hold for him will never leave me and I will keep the lessons learned from him in my heart. There's no way I can thank him for everything he has done for me. The best thing I can do is play my heart out one last time.

There's a saying: "when one door closes, another opens," but with this band and this university, I know that the door will never close. However, for one last time I take the stage with an organization that changed my life. The love, passion, pride, and fun (among many other things) I learned will stay with me until my dying day. It's going to be a tough night, but I'm going to take in every moment. We never say goodbye, but simply we'll see you real soon, and ON, WISCONSIN.

Amour

Amour is a minimalistic love story about a man and his wife, who suffers from an attack, and how their love is tested. Whether it is through talking with her, feeding her, or just being with her, this is a tale of true love and the tribulations that can come with it in old age.

Foreign films often struggle in America due to the added issue of subtitles. Amour, however found a way around this. By choosing only static shots on the screen, save for a few moments when the camera follows the action, it is easier to read all the dialogue and see the character's expressions at the same time. The static shots also add a feeling of claustrophobia throughout the film.

And in a film about love and other emotions, expressions are key. Critics and audiences alike are relishing Emmanuelle Riva's performance as Anna and it is stupendously tragic, but without the outstanding performance of Jean-Louis Trintignant she would have been "hung out to dry." The chemistry the pair share on screen is unquestioningly charming.

What made their performance so great was the story and how it shows the audience the everyday struggles someone who has had a stroke must deal with. Going to the bathroom, showering, even eating. Nothing is off limits in this movie.

In the end Amour raises the question: What would you do for the person you love most?

8.5/10