I got a text response from Edith saying that I should go over to her house and hang out with her and Eryn later in the night. I told her I would. Then there was a discussion of not coming until later and later because of necessary things that were being taken care of. Finally I told her to just let me know when they were free. Around 9:30 a text: "So we're just going to pick you up. We'll call when we're outside, about 20 mins. Dressy casual is the attire for the evening." They did just that, and, perplexed as I was about the dress code, I've learned to just go with it.
I got into Eryn's new Rav4 (the girl changes cars more often than I change toothbruses) and was whisked away. They informed me that I was being kidnapped and we were going to Dallas. I half-believed them, knowing the would do just that. However, when they asked if I had anything going on Saturday and I let them know that I did, in fact, have obligations, I knew. We were going out on the town. A half hour or so later we pulled up in the Little Rock parking lot of Mt. Fuji sushi café. Our friend Patrick hopped in the back seat next to me. We drove on. As we wound through Little Rock in the Toyota, I realized where we must have been going.
Eryn got a bit lost between the Rivermarket and NLR's downtown. Poor thing. We were aiming at Cregeen's Irish Pub. Eventually we made it, and my spirits were lifted. My 21st birthday was being celebrated as most college students do. Only, mine came 362 days belated. As things turned out, Zach Hicks, with whom I attended high school, showed up eventually.
We ordered a table full of humus and sundry other appetizers and desserts along with a nice bottle of wine. Patrick was too young to drink and Zach didn't partake either, so it left the girls and I to split the Shiraz-- their choice for my first legal American drink in public. We had an incredibly fun time just hanging out and laughing in the pub down in Argenta. Even though I don't spend nearly enough time with E&E, and the others I don't know too well, we got on like friends who see each other day in and out. Of course we're young and silly, of course we're just twentysomethings on the brink of grad school and careers and moving away and spiraling into the abyss that is the real world. But last night, just for the night, we were content and happy and free to just be. It has been a fearsome long time since I've felt like that.
I got to bed around 3.
-----
Today I had to present a poster on my time in China for Honors College Family Day. I made the poster last Thursday while groaning through NBC's pre- and post-Office offerings. I feel like my poster was more of a success than Kath and Kim will ever be. In fact, I'm rather happy with the outcome of my poster. It's informative and nice to look at. I had to present it in order to "disseminate" (their awkward word) the information of my experience; I was partially funded by a TAG grant from the Honors College.
Speaking of grants, I'm in the process of writing three for this summer. Actually, I've submitted one, for a language immersion with Adam in Shanghai. I'm also working on one to extend my time in China a month for research and shooting of my thesis documentary. The third is funding for the rest of my summer, which I'm planning to spend as an intern with Jacob's Well in Chicagoland. I'm really looking forward to doing a worship arts internship and expanding my resume thereby.
I'm going to be a busy boy. Well, I already am...
Tomorrow: Trace goes back to Antioch and tries a different small group.
T
No comments:
Post a Comment