I had the most unbelievable weekend – and the best thing about it was that nothing overly spectacular happened. I mean, I was in New York, which was awesome, but the reason it was so awesome is because some of my favorite people were there – and it all fell into place. I will give a cast of characters: (I have a lot of best friends – I see this as a class of people, not a ranking)
Libby – best friend from home, went to the university of maryland to swim, moved to new york this summer.
Maggie – another best friend from home, carpool friend from kindergarten, 5th grade best friend, pledge sister in college, and roommate last year. Maggie moved to New York last week with Emily.
Emily – best friend from kindergarten, went to Notre Dame and worked in Milwalkee until moving to New York last week.
Jennifer – best friend from college, also from Augusta, also roommate from last year, a year younger than the rest of us, very important person in college, also in sorority with maggie and me. Just moved to D.C. but is not settled yet.
Originally, Jennifer was not coming to the city, but Thursday decided to take the train. This was very exciting, because Jennifer and Libby and Maggie are three people that I miss a great deal. I am used to missing Libby, because we haven’t lived in the same town since high school, but I haven’t lived away from Jennifer and Maggie ever – and I am used to seeing them on an everyday basis. I was on the verge of tears just thinking about seeing Libby and Maggie in the same place, but throw Jennifer into it and I was a wreck. Actually, I was just ecstatic.
It was pouring down rain on Thursday when I arrived in New York, and this was a huge hassle, but after the rain stopped that night, the weather was perfect and mild and beautiful and windy and wonderful.
Things I learned this weekend:
1. Not all Karaoke bars are the same. Some are scary and dark and creepy.
2. Hunan Chinese food is very, very, very spicy – to a degree that I can’t handle.
3. Chinese food tastes good with Miller Lite tall boys – especially if you drink the beer out of the little tea cups on the table.
4. Some people in New York are still so upset about the election that simply being from a red state is enough to merit abuse.
5. Bars that don’t have names on them and look like a random warehouse in the front can be really great if you have the best group of people with you.
6. Doing handstands on the sidewalk is fun, doing headstands is less fun.
7. Marathon runners are really accomplished and impress me greatly (they make jennifer and nick feel bad about themselves – like, what did you do today? oh, I ran a marathon. Really? I slept in and ate a huge brunch and drank a bloody mary).
8. Central Park is so pretty, if I lived in New York I would have to spend a great deal of time there just to make up for the craziness outside the park.
9. If the Chinese food at dinner is too spicy, just go down the street and get a Gyro – I promise that it will make you feel better.
10. Football is always fun to watch on Saturday in the fall.
11. Pizza is ALWAYS good in new york.
12. Frozen hot chocolate is yummy, but if you eat the whole thing, you could feel sick (kinda like how jaeger is fun, but doen’t drink the whole bottle!).
13. Pumpkin Spice Lattes are great fun and taste like liquid fall (leaves, deep blue skies, warm kitchens, brisk winds, cool grass, warm sunshine, warm cookies, big hugs, sandwich from ham straight out of oven, apples, pecan pie, sweet potatoes, sweaters and fresh bread).
14. EVERYONE has an iPod on the subway.
15. I am so lucky to have such awesome friends and I have no right to complain about anything because I have such wonderful people in my life. In addition to having such great friends, I am in a position to visit them and have spectacular experiences. This has been the greatest year of my life when it comes to opportunities and experiences, I feel so blessed and happy.
p.s. If you haven’t caught on by now, I am a bit of a gusher. All weekend they made of fun of me, being like, so Charlsie, how are you feeling right now? which was enough to launch me into a monologue of how happy I was and how much I loved everyone. I think enthusiasm is important.
the thin line between optimism and delusion... 
Leave a Reply