June 6, 1945 – British and American forces deploy over 160,000 troops by air and by sea on the Normandy coastline of France. In the largest invasion in military history, the Allies face funneled mortars, artillery, and machine guns as they struggle to liberate the beach from the Nazi occupiers. On Omaha Beach alone, 5,000 Americans are killed and countless others wounded. It is a scene of bloodshed and chaos; bullets, shrapnel, and pieces of men flying through the air. Grown men crying out for their mothers as their fellow soldiers are killed before their eyes.

BUT JUNE 6 IS ALSO MY BIRTHDAY!!

And in a curious turn of events, THE DAY I GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE. I’ll have two equally worthless degrees in Creative Writing and Studio Art (because I decided to pursue something I am passionate about rather than something that will actually earn me money) and will afterwards be attending the University of Mom and Dad’s Basement. There is no decent curriculum, but room and board are free.

I have a mixture of rapture and fear surrounding this event. This little town is boring as hell and I want to get out and leave my mark on the world, but then I’m terrified of the real world. I kind of like having all my friends around bitching about classes, knowing where my next meal is coming from, and not having to don a suit and tie. The art market and publishing industry are pretty stagnant now. I’ve sent out several letters of inquiry but the only ones that respond tell me that they’re not hiring. What if I fall flat on my face or end up in a cubicle for thirty years with a job I hate? I had enough anxiety toward my future before the economy tanked!

Well, it helps to think that tens of thousands of other grads will be facing similar dilemmas.

Congrats to all the other graduates out there and to those who are waiting out the economy by taking shelter at grad schools, you are all cowards!! Actually, not really…

In other news, I may be getting a laptop for my birthday/graduation so I won’t have to rely on a computer lap or be weary of my parents looking over my shoulder. I could get a Second Life account.

At the rate I’m going, I don’t know when I’ll ever open up commissions.

--Artizek