This past weekend warmed my heart more than apple sauce muffins do. (*insert random tangent: apple sauce muffins taste like the feeling of grandmothers' hugs, are healthy for you because it's a Weight Watchers recipe, and are vegan friendly!)
My last complete weekend in the grand 'ole USA began early Friday morning. My mother and I began our trek to Pekin, IL at approximately 6:30AM due to my court date scheduled for 9:30AM and my great fear of construction delays (since they were the major contributing factor to my second ticket in 3 months and the reason for my trip that day). Good thing we left when we did...SO MUCH CONSTRUCTION!!! We arrived at 9:13ish, but weren't called for over an hour. During this time, we spoke to a nice woman with a baby who received a ticket she didn't deserve, saw an overweight woman get the stare-down while sitting in the bailiff's chair, and saw a young man get arrested because he was unable to make a second payment on his traffic ticket.
On our way back from court, we stopped in Peoria to have lunch with a few of my friends. My mom was lucky enough to get the true Bradley experience: Tort Friday (and later Ice Cream Shack). She met several of my friends and even got a free promotional t-shirt for the volleyball game that night! Overall success, I'd say. The drive home was fairly anti-climatic, but quality mother-daughter bonding, nonetheless…I drove back down to P-town later that night to visit all weekend. Friday consisted of seeing a few friends, s’more making, an Irish-themed chick flick, and apple sauce muffins.
Saturday morning we woke early to attend the farmers’ market on the riverfront. It could not have been a more enjoyable morning. Kelsey made tofu-scramble (her first tofu experience as a new vegan). It was quite good! At the market, were fresh produce and baked goods as well as fun crafts and wooden fishing lures. And let us not forget the live banjos! Lunch at the Rhythm Kitchen, and then muffin delivery on campus. Dinner at Chili’s and then an evening at the annual Irish Festival downtown. Can I just take this opportunity to tell you how much I love Celtic music?! So much! (Random fact: there was a boy probably around 8 years old, wearing camouflage, dancing his heart out to the music of a band from Nova Scotia. I wish everyone in the world had the chance to experience this pure bliss). Also, I met a new friend named Garrett, who I thoroughly enjoy. He has family plaid. Enough said. Then at Late Night BU, I went through the inflatable obstacle course. This was my first experience. I fell out at the end and skinned my knee. It was fun. I ate vegetarian all day. It was mildly challenging, which just proves to me how dependent our culture is on meat. I’ve decided to go vegetarian during Lent. Just because.
Sunday was pretty low-key. Geisert Brunch—classic. I visited some other friends, and had a dinner date (in two takes). I hung out until my friend Sarah came back from the Minnesota State Fair, so I could see her before I left. On the two hour drive home under the moon and stars, I enjoyed a Chai Tea Latte (which tasted how autumn feels), and listened to the music I listened to before my last trip to Spain…
It may seem pointless for me to have explained all of these events, but it’s significant because it makes me realize that there are a lot of fun things to experience when we make an effort to and when we reflect on our days in which we so often believe we’ve done “nothing.” The most important thing I realized this weekend, however, is how many people are important to me and how strong my relationships with others are. When faced with the scenario of having to find those to say goodbye to, I felt the need to make a list of friends to see. But while at school, I saw so many more people than those on my original list. It was truly grounding and astounding to realize just how many friends I have and how great of a support system I have not only at school, but in all aspects of my life. I am so blessed to be surrounded by such amazing people. I will miss everyone while I’m abroad, but by experiencing different things, we can all share the wealth, telling tales of our own adventures!
31 August 2010
Try Them On For Size...(an official welcome to my blog)
Shoe. Defined as an outer covering for the human foot designed for comfort and protection, it symbolizes much more. People put on their walkin’ shoes, their dancing shoes, their traveling shoes, their blue suede shoes. To understand another’s perspective, it may be necessary to walk a mile in their shoes. One can tell a lot about a person by the shoes they wear—elegant or practical, polished or tattered—the places they’ve been, the lifestyle they’ve lived, and the dreams they yearn to pursue… Life is a great voyage filled with daily adventures. Every piece of gum stuck to the soles and each hole worn into its sides simply adds character and details the experiences. Walk with me as I take this journey in my shoes…
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)