The most fabulous woman on the entire American continent brilliantly defended her PhD in French literature. Her boyfriend moved to the other side of the country for a position in a prestigious university. She got a temporary position at our university and the goal of reviving a dying department in these times of economic scarcity.

One of my favorite couples (one of those too rare couples in which you couldn't say which of the two you love the most) got pregnant, and got the decency to declare that she was pregnant and all he could do was support her the best he can. She defended her PhD as well.

Several other people got their doctorates and moved on to new, exciting positions.

One of my labmates got a prestigious award.

My dance team put together not one but two new routines and presented them in competitions. They kept on organizing what looks like fantastic events, having the time of their lives, becoming better and better dancers, and welcoming more and more beginners to the club.

My former roommates got their degrees and fabulous jobs in New York, because that's how good theater ladies they are.

One of my best friends almost lost his job in a takeover, eventually got promoted instead, and got enough work done in his free time in the meanwhile to launch a startup that investors actually want to finance this time around.

Love burgeoned or whithered away, hearts were broken and tears were shed.

Family members and pets passed away, tragedy struck, funerals were attended, and preposterous articles were written in the local newspapers.

Relay races and marathons were run, concerts were attended, political protests organized, basketball games won.

Final recitals were given, curtains fell for the last time on the stage, commencement ceremonies were walked.

Babies were born and pictures of them started populating the Internets.

I clicked "Like" many times, I wrote emails, I sent postcards, and I spent hours on the phone. But I was never there, in person, to cry and laugh and hug and celebrate and hold babies and dance til my legs can't support me any more and act generally crazy.

Tomorrow, one of the Fabulous Four (women to become a PhD in computer science from my university last year) will be in my living room. She'll visit my lab, attend a local symposium, and fly even further East to visit her family. Then we'll meet again Up North and attend the wedding of the third of us to the guy whose office was next door to mine and who successfully defended a mere hours ago.

I wouldn't be entirely surprised if my heart exploded.