Thanks Mom and Dad, see you Monday!
Pipps is doing great, thanks for asking.
We got in Friday afternoon and then snacked and chatted until we left again. The fun part of traveling with friends is getting that twenty-four hour access to how they move through a day. I've known Ellie since we were five, so few of her choices strike me as funny, except for the fact that most of her choices are funny. She's the most steadily sanguine person I know. Her mood rarely changes from cheerful optimism. When she's mad or scared or anything different, it has about a ten percent opacity. You'll only know because she told you - it won't be discernible in her voice or behavior. Caroline, like me, is much more inclined to feel many different emotions in a day. Caroline, unlike me, will tell you about them. I appreciate this about her because she and I are usually on the same page about things but she'll say something about it and subsequently, she seems like the problem child instead of me.
Our rental house had a scary, North Carolina driveway. It was all right angles and steep inclines on a gravel path. The car would slip and tremble as you made your way up and up and up, and being that we are all from a very flat place, the driveway seemed dicey. That is to say, I did not like this driveway but with an unfazed Brett behind the wheel, I could sit quietly and endure the tension. Caroline also did not like the driveway but she lived in fear of coming or going from the house each day. She would look for ways around using the driveway ("let's order in!"), walk herself down the hill, or sit in the car discussing her worries as we rolled back down the mountain. Ellie sat in whatever seat of whatever car we took that day and carried on enjoying the mere concept of being alive.
So watching this particular group of people for a weekend was a joy. Brett and Ellie hit it off the very moment I introduced them to each other ten years ago, and it's continued to be such a joy to see them pull the fun out of each other. Caroline and I often sit together and watch them play, like proud moms hosting a successful playdate. As the more vigilant (anxious) members of our group, we let them wreak havoc in the controlled environment we create for them. "Come on you two, it's time for lunch. Ellie, have you had any water today?" While they play, Caroline and I talk about "important" things ranging in subject from politics to human health to unique experiences. She is a good listener and a direct but fair responder. She will not sugar coat things but won't present anything to you that she doesn't think you can handle. Also, she's real easy to make laugh.
So that's one way we pair off.
The other one is equally fun for me to observe. Caroline and Brett are similar in many ways. They are highly disciplined, prioritize doing what's best for their future-selves, and have high ethical standards. They both wake up early for sunrises, require good coffee, and set off exercising before Ellie and I are even close to waking up. So while they're busy implementing ways for us to all better ourselves, Ellie and I will be deeply invested in trying to shock the other, be it with behavior or wit. Usually the two of us are laughing so hard that we're crying, which is great fun to us, but seems to embarrass Brett and Caroline when we're out in public.
What I really like about this friendship is our willingness to snap at each other. It sounds counterintuitive but I think many friendships ignore or endure bits that make people uncomfortable, because we don't want make waves. There are people I love spending time with but wouldn't ask them to change things I don't like. Here, we can all tell each other "Hey, you're being childish right now," and we'll still go home giggling arm in arm.
There was a huge Indian dinner.
A hike that nearly killed me on account of the common outcome of an Indian Dinner.
Lots of coffee shop visits.
Poker night.
And a general wandering around in a town that wound up being only about 3 degrees cooler than our home temperatures. We also managed to consistently patronize establishments without air conditioning so we were all about as sweaty as people can be.
Other highlights I will note purely for my own memory of this trip (it would be far too much to explain); a rockstar named Billy Balls, the breakfast casserole, pet gerbils, "yes, but she's well fed.", the angry trucker, the art student, Caroline's unexpected spit-take, the overweight nudists, and the hairy man at the coffee shop that we all found strangely attractive.
We laughed so hard I felt sick. I think that sums up the weekend.
No comments:
Post a Comment