Recollections.
Jan. 3rd, 2002 01:22 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
judecorpI don't even know where to begin. I left on Friday afternoon. It's the inky early hours of Thursday morning now. So much has happened that I wish I could accurately or adequately capture here, and I don't think I can. I want to remember every single detail. I'll fail. I know this. I hope, though, that I can remember the important things.
1. I love all of you. Yes, you.
2. I am homesick. (Home being Boston. Not Ohio.)
3. I had an amazing time.
4. It was also a difficult time. But that didn't make it less amazing.
5. My brother is trying so very hard.
6. I have a ton of good memories.
The Director's Cut:
Bus ride to NYC - haven't taken that trip (on a bus) since college. So much has changed. So many cell phones. I don't think people had cell phones last time I took the bus down. Managed the subway and the Q58 with all of my stuff. Saw Jodie and Mark. Jodie was happy to see me. I'm still unsure as to whether Mark was or not. Jodie gave me magnets - some Schoolhouse Rock ones and one of a pulp novel entitled I Prefer Girls. Hee.
She picked me up in Queens with her father. I hadn't seen her since 1996. Maybe early 1997. Five years. Five long years. The ride in the car with her father was awkward but provided a good buffer for the amount of time that had passed - simple, casual conversation about general things. It was nice.
We drove down to Delaware. The ride, as everything else, was a learning experience. We quickly picked up where we left off. And eventually surpassed that. But it took too long. Maybe. Maybe it was just right. She teased me. Too much. Because she was nervous. Because I was nervous. I'm so incredibly thankful to have my friend back. SO thankful. Grateful.
What can I say about Delaware? Baga. Mindy. That Redhead (Princess Dorabella). Jenn. Wiley. Shani. Matt. Christina. Chris C. Jess. Rich. Emp. Mom. Isaac & Esther. John. Chris L. Annie. Carrie. William. The Pews. Magpie. I love these people. These people are the family I have chosen for myself ~ the kind of family you keep together with ties of the heart and soul.
Dory's look of horror when someone mentioned geocaching. Shani saying "Dee-wight." The gay frat boy. "It's bigger than a regular hat. It's funny." The private parties in our room. Conspiratorial circles of girls. Playing pool. Losing at pool. Watching someone play pool. Dressing up. Seeing my friends dressed up. Sushi. Being tipsy. Getting hugged. Wise or Otherwise. "Gross of condoms." (Ewwww!) Scraped knees. The ocean. THE OCEAN. Frisbee with Wiley and Matt. Naps in the afternoon. Quiet conversations. Walks on the beach. Wild drunken smooches (9 people plus one)! Champagne. "Stop staring at me. Stop following me." Sex and the City (porn!). Presents. Concerned friends. Heart-to-hearts. The most uncomfortable bed in the universe. Punches in the arm. Arm wrestling. The dripping, humorless sarcasm, "It must be your feminine wiles." Consoling loved ones. Giggles across tables. Hand holding. Getting teased about the 'muffin' comment again... and again... and again. Being protected. Protecting. Pirate Bendy. Invisible Jim. Chasing Isaac around. Girl bonding moments. Remembering who I am. Realizing why I need to move back. Love. Love. Love. "My sister has her tongue in some girl's mouth!" Being understood. Mexican food with a brother who approves, and encourages. Watching him try very hard. The roof balcony. Chicory Stout. Being told I'm cute. Being told I'm pretty. Being told I'm beautiful. "I need to kiss your tongue ring right now." Karate pants. Kieron's Nuclear Slag. Dom Perignon up my nose. Talking to Jess while she did her nails. Haircut compliments. Difficult times. Someone's pillowcase. A smurf in shining armor. Shiny things. Earrings. "I'm fighting for you." Wiping away tears. Tuesday night rehash, gossip, laughter, and love. Feeling accepted and comfortable and where I'm supposed to be. Coworker Hope's "I need gossip" phonecall. Mindy's umbrella hair. Carrie's hair prosthesis. Shani on the beach. Wednesday morning sunrise. An extended goodbye... that wasn't long enough.
They say you don't know what you've got until it's gone. My place is in Boston, both because of family and because of the wonderful people I spent so much time with. Boston has always been my hometown, and I miss it. I still plan to apply to some jobs in the City, but I'm going to apply in Boston, too. Between the day of nostalgia with Luke and the long weekend with family, both blood and chosen, I'm homesick. So terribly, terribly homesick. I don't want to go back to Columbus. Ever.
2001 was the hardest... nay, most challenging... year of my life. Easily. It's over now, and I have emerged a stronger, wiser, more determined person. I not only know who I am, but am actively being that person. And I'm /happy/ about it. And content. And pleased. So take that, last year's New Years of Loneliness. Take that, apartment fire and frantic moving. Take that, ended marriage and watching a loved one die. Take that, terrible illness and the illness of a friend I didn't find out about until it was over. Take that, hospital stays for grandfather and father. Take that, stress over schoolwork and money and jobs and no time no time no time. Take that, potentially ended friendships. Take that, crimes against humanity, and death and hatred and jingoism. Take that, homophobia. You did not beat me, and you will not. You have only made me stronger and more resolved. I have callouses from you, 2001, and they are not only indicative of who I am and where I've been, but they are fucking sexy as hell. So take /that/, 2001.
It's now 2002 and I, among so many other things, am a superhero, a friend, a shiny thing, a daughter, a person, a woman, a grrl, a political activist, a therapist, a social worker, a successful student with a 4.0, a genius, an optimist, a sister, an honorable knight in shining armor, a fledgling writer, a good person, a cutie, and a lesbian. She said I was art. Mmm.
1. I love all of you. Yes, you.
2. I am homesick. (Home being Boston. Not Ohio.)
3. I had an amazing time.
4. It was also a difficult time. But that didn't make it less amazing.
5. My brother is trying so very hard.
6. I have a ton of good memories.
The Director's Cut:
Bus ride to NYC - haven't taken that trip (on a bus) since college. So much has changed. So many cell phones. I don't think people had cell phones last time I took the bus down. Managed the subway and the Q58 with all of my stuff. Saw Jodie and Mark. Jodie was happy to see me. I'm still unsure as to whether Mark was or not. Jodie gave me magnets - some Schoolhouse Rock ones and one of a pulp novel entitled I Prefer Girls. Hee.
She picked me up in Queens with her father. I hadn't seen her since 1996. Maybe early 1997. Five years. Five long years. The ride in the car with her father was awkward but provided a good buffer for the amount of time that had passed - simple, casual conversation about general things. It was nice.
We drove down to Delaware. The ride, as everything else, was a learning experience. We quickly picked up where we left off. And eventually surpassed that. But it took too long. Maybe. Maybe it was just right. She teased me. Too much. Because she was nervous. Because I was nervous. I'm so incredibly thankful to have my friend back. SO thankful. Grateful.
What can I say about Delaware? Baga. Mindy. That Redhead (Princess Dorabella). Jenn. Wiley. Shani. Matt. Christina. Chris C. Jess. Rich. Emp. Mom. Isaac & Esther. John. Chris L. Annie. Carrie. William. The Pews. Magpie. I love these people. These people are the family I have chosen for myself ~ the kind of family you keep together with ties of the heart and soul.
Dory's look of horror when someone mentioned geocaching. Shani saying "Dee-wight." The gay frat boy. "It's bigger than a regular hat. It's funny." The private parties in our room. Conspiratorial circles of girls. Playing pool. Losing at pool. Watching someone play pool. Dressing up. Seeing my friends dressed up. Sushi. Being tipsy. Getting hugged. Wise or Otherwise. "Gross of condoms." (Ewwww!) Scraped knees. The ocean. THE OCEAN. Frisbee with Wiley and Matt. Naps in the afternoon. Quiet conversations. Walks on the beach. Wild drunken smooches (9 people plus one)! Champagne. "Stop staring at me. Stop following me." Sex and the City (porn!). Presents. Concerned friends. Heart-to-hearts. The most uncomfortable bed in the universe. Punches in the arm. Arm wrestling. The dripping, humorless sarcasm, "It must be your feminine wiles." Consoling loved ones. Giggles across tables. Hand holding. Getting teased about the 'muffin' comment again... and again... and again. Being protected. Protecting. Pirate Bendy. Invisible Jim. Chasing Isaac around. Girl bonding moments. Remembering who I am. Realizing why I need to move back. Love. Love. Love. "My sister has her tongue in some girl's mouth!" Being understood. Mexican food with a brother who approves, and encourages. Watching him try very hard. The roof balcony. Chicory Stout. Being told I'm cute. Being told I'm pretty. Being told I'm beautiful. "I need to kiss your tongue ring right now." Karate pants. Kieron's Nuclear Slag. Dom Perignon up my nose. Talking to Jess while she did her nails. Haircut compliments. Difficult times. Someone's pillowcase. A smurf in shining armor. Shiny things. Earrings. "I'm fighting for you." Wiping away tears. Tuesday night rehash, gossip, laughter, and love. Feeling accepted and comfortable and where I'm supposed to be. Coworker Hope's "I need gossip" phonecall. Mindy's umbrella hair. Carrie's hair prosthesis. Shani on the beach. Wednesday morning sunrise. An extended goodbye... that wasn't long enough.
They say you don't know what you've got until it's gone. My place is in Boston, both because of family and because of the wonderful people I spent so much time with. Boston has always been my hometown, and I miss it. I still plan to apply to some jobs in the City, but I'm going to apply in Boston, too. Between the day of nostalgia with Luke and the long weekend with family, both blood and chosen, I'm homesick. So terribly, terribly homesick. I don't want to go back to Columbus. Ever.
2001 was the hardest... nay, most challenging... year of my life. Easily. It's over now, and I have emerged a stronger, wiser, more determined person. I not only know who I am, but am actively being that person. And I'm /happy/ about it. And content. And pleased. So take that, last year's New Years of Loneliness. Take that, apartment fire and frantic moving. Take that, ended marriage and watching a loved one die. Take that, terrible illness and the illness of a friend I didn't find out about until it was over. Take that, hospital stays for grandfather and father. Take that, stress over schoolwork and money and jobs and no time no time no time. Take that, potentially ended friendships. Take that, crimes against humanity, and death and hatred and jingoism. Take that, homophobia. You did not beat me, and you will not. You have only made me stronger and more resolved. I have callouses from you, 2001, and they are not only indicative of who I am and where I've been, but they are fucking sexy as hell. So take /that/, 2001.
It's now 2002 and I, among so many other things, am a superhero, a friend, a shiny thing, a daughter, a person, a woman, a grrl, a political activist, a therapist, a social worker, a successful student with a 4.0, a genius, an optimist, a sister, an honorable knight in shining armor, a fledgling writer, a good person, a cutie, and a lesbian. She said I was art. Mmm.
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no subject
Date: 2002-01-02 10:21 pm (UTC)=)
Coffee.
Date: 2002-01-02 10:27 pm (UTC)I will call you. My goodness, Happi. We have SO MUCH to talk about. You, I think, will perish of shock.
no subject
Date: 2002-01-03 05:45 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2002-01-03 09:24 am (UTC)Gah.
no subject
Hee!
Date: 2002-01-04 02:44 pm (UTC)And yes, it is the Instant Conversation Shirt. Then again, so was the one Jost had, that simply read, "Let the fucking begin." Yikes!