I recently took a trip back to MD. The motivation was partially that I missed being independent and partially that my list of reasons to go back was long enough that I could justify it.
I spent the first couple days with my friend who was on spring break. Even though I was sick the first couple of days, we were able to make sure that he spent his break playing Minecraft instead of being productive. Got to squeeze in dinner with friends in the city. Ate some mussels, had a shot of butterscotch schnapps, saw MD basketball win in March, and went to my go-to mixed-Asian restaurant. I will definitely miss the Charmery's Old Bay Caramel Ice Cream.
The next couple days I spent with another friend and his wife in their guest room. Went to midnight pre-release and played 2HG, going 3-1. Played board games all day for two days with friends from grad school who I had not seen for a while. I also pet-sat for the first time ever (that chinchilla in college doesn't count).
My last week I crashed by my friend who lived on campus. We played through the first 3 Uncharted games while catching up on what was happening in out lives. Had a boardgame night with a couple couples I had missed on my way out of MD. Got to play out D's Delivery Service and Marvel movie fanboy with a friend who was in recovery. Hitched a ride with sisters I had not seen in far too long. I got to have pre-birthday lunch with the college gang. Didn't get to meet my friend's baby because I was still getting over a cold or have dinner with a friend who I had to reschedule with 3 times, but c'est la vie.
Everyone is going well, and though my friends and I miss each other, things go on. It still scares me how much the parts of life keep churning when a piece is removed, but that probably just comes from an over-inflated sense of self-importance. This trip was a good reminder that everything keeps moving forward, and so should I.
I always liked the closing lines of the Great Gatsby: "So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."
I always focused on the last part about us being borne into the past. The futility of resisting your history. The overwhelming force of the past and our experiences. It is all very romantic.
However, equally important is that we beat on against the current that is life. Even if we are borne into the past, you still have to paddle forwards. And beat on we must.
Lyrics of the Day: Bad Suns - Cardiac Arrest
"I’ve been tryin’ to keep my grip, yeah I think I’m over this
I can hear it now, oh no, oh no-o
Yeah my tongue will let it slip, why’d I do those things I did
I can taste it now, oh no, oh no-o
I’ll try my best, how much do I invest?
Like cardiac arrest, high voltage in her lips
I’ll try my best, how much do I invest?
Like cardiac arrest, high voltage when we kiss."
