(no subject)
I had the worst drive to the Lehigh Valley today. It was my fault. I left late at around 2ish. I reached, finally, at almost 4pm. Its 60 miles, max, depending on where I'm going. But as always with Friday/Weekend/Holiday/Rainy Day/MidAfternoon traffic it was one of the longest 60 miles of my life (in a car). So I get into my old town, Whitehall, by some back road manipulation to skip over the dead-stop traffic on the highway. I drive past my mom's old house (apartment). Someone lives there now. The lights were on. I don't miss it that much. I didn't slow down as I drove by.
The Borders, which is where I was headed, is only a mile up the road. In high school I would always take the way past my friend Josh's house. I didn't have any place to drive at length then, so it didn't really matter. I didn't take that way today. I get to Borders. My friend Dave is the barista. I didn't recognize him, really. I feel like he got taller. I only recognized him once he called my name for my drink and pronounced it correctly. He didn't say much, just asked if I wanted whipped cream on top. I said no. He makes a good Mocha. I met up with an old friend, pissed, and left to meet up with Sheila. Waiting outside the Whitsett household, I could see the bustle of four daughters home inside for the holidays. Sheila was running up and down looking for shoes, Healey was ready to go out, but no where to go, the volleyball star was doing something star-like, and the young one (still in high school) was on the computer, I think. The dog was roaming, the parents in the kitchen, and then Sheila was out the door. She and I drove to Ross's since he never picks up his phone, or rather, since his phone is never operational. I took another back road, but this time it was much darker and I almost couldn't remember which way to turn. As I experienced this loss of polaris for a breif moment, I said outloud to Sheila, "I really don't miss this place as much as I used to. Every time I come here, I miss it less and less." She asked if I ever missed it. Of course I did. I still do.
Ross was home, of course, on his computer, doing nothing. I don't have to guess as to what he was doing, or hypothesize. I always know what Ross is doing, when he is doing it, because he is always on the computer for one reason or another. Anyway, off to Eric's. We got him at his mom's house. She had just broken her ankle decorating the outside of their house. Then to Eric's dad's and I felt like it was two years ago and we were going to practice as if we had a show later. That wasn't the case. Eric is drumming in a new band now, June State Residential. He's a capable drummer, but I know he's just having fun. It was somewhat of an odd experience being in Eric's dad's basement and not playing music, but instead watching another band play and the bass player use my equipment. I consider that place to be my second home, of sorts. I know I've slept there many times, and I've definitely rushed there from school to write. I've been in that basement since I was 13 and its where I learned how to write and be in a band. Well, that soon ended, I took my equipment, and left with Ross and Sheila to go to Tom and Greg's going away party. This was my first time in the LV since this summer.
Soon after we get to Tom and Greg's people start to pile in. Cases of beer stock the fridge, and chinese food and a vegetable tray fill the kitchen. I had my fair share of General Tso's Tofu and, yup, Miller Lite. It kind of is better in the bottle. I hadn't seen so many of these people in at least two years. Guppy, Garrett, Marcy, Greg's little brother (who has muscles?) Mel, Josh, etc. There were definitely about ten people there who I didn't know at all. I was introduced to a few, and the others I just stepped between. Predator is on in the living room, poker is being played in the kitchen, Ryan is somehow drunker than anyone and running from end to end and Arthur is walking in. I realize that I don't feel the need to leave.
Well, Sheila and I have a good talk about how to cope with being a freshman at college and finding the line between getting ass and meeting someone. Ryan gets naked and begins to sport a thong made of gift wrapping paper. I really didn't think he was that drunk. Predator is back on. I guess someone turned it off. But I had to go now. I take a picture of Ryan in his wrapping paper thong, and say my goodbyes. I'll see some of these people next week when I go back up. I'll see some next time I'm home. I'll see the rest within the next two years; maybe at a wedding or another going away party or a welcome back party. The goodbyes seemed long as I walked out the door, but I know as I was saying "bye" I felt a brevity that I didn't expect. As if everyone in the room expected to see me tomorrow, or that this hadn't been the first time in at least six months we had seen eachother. The drive home was tough. The rain wasn't forgiving and fog is just annoying. I know my windows fog up easily, and even worse, wash after wash, the streaks never seem to leave my windsheild. It was hard to see the road lines, but it was the perfect weather to think. I had to keep my mind active somehow to ensure that I stayed awake. But in the end I thought more than just about the road and the cars ahead of me and the deer in the trees. I know that whichever side of this state I am on, I will be in good company. I haven't had a night like tonight in the LV for so long. Its simpler nights like this that haven't happened in Pittsburgh in a while, so its easy to take for granted. But I know I am content where ever I go. I know good people, and I'm fucking glad I do.
The Borders, which is where I was headed, is only a mile up the road. In high school I would always take the way past my friend Josh's house. I didn't have any place to drive at length then, so it didn't really matter. I didn't take that way today. I get to Borders. My friend Dave is the barista. I didn't recognize him, really. I feel like he got taller. I only recognized him once he called my name for my drink and pronounced it correctly. He didn't say much, just asked if I wanted whipped cream on top. I said no. He makes a good Mocha. I met up with an old friend, pissed, and left to meet up with Sheila. Waiting outside the Whitsett household, I could see the bustle of four daughters home inside for the holidays. Sheila was running up and down looking for shoes, Healey was ready to go out, but no where to go, the volleyball star was doing something star-like, and the young one (still in high school) was on the computer, I think. The dog was roaming, the parents in the kitchen, and then Sheila was out the door. She and I drove to Ross's since he never picks up his phone, or rather, since his phone is never operational. I took another back road, but this time it was much darker and I almost couldn't remember which way to turn. As I experienced this loss of polaris for a breif moment, I said outloud to Sheila, "I really don't miss this place as much as I used to. Every time I come here, I miss it less and less." She asked if I ever missed it. Of course I did. I still do.
Ross was home, of course, on his computer, doing nothing. I don't have to guess as to what he was doing, or hypothesize. I always know what Ross is doing, when he is doing it, because he is always on the computer for one reason or another. Anyway, off to Eric's. We got him at his mom's house. She had just broken her ankle decorating the outside of their house. Then to Eric's dad's and I felt like it was two years ago and we were going to practice as if we had a show later. That wasn't the case. Eric is drumming in a new band now, June State Residential. He's a capable drummer, but I know he's just having fun. It was somewhat of an odd experience being in Eric's dad's basement and not playing music, but instead watching another band play and the bass player use my equipment. I consider that place to be my second home, of sorts. I know I've slept there many times, and I've definitely rushed there from school to write. I've been in that basement since I was 13 and its where I learned how to write and be in a band. Well, that soon ended, I took my equipment, and left with Ross and Sheila to go to Tom and Greg's going away party. This was my first time in the LV since this summer.
Soon after we get to Tom and Greg's people start to pile in. Cases of beer stock the fridge, and chinese food and a vegetable tray fill the kitchen. I had my fair share of General Tso's Tofu and, yup, Miller Lite. It kind of is better in the bottle. I hadn't seen so many of these people in at least two years. Guppy, Garrett, Marcy, Greg's little brother (who has muscles?) Mel, Josh, etc. There were definitely about ten people there who I didn't know at all. I was introduced to a few, and the others I just stepped between. Predator is on in the living room, poker is being played in the kitchen, Ryan is somehow drunker than anyone and running from end to end and Arthur is walking in. I realize that I don't feel the need to leave.
Well, Sheila and I have a good talk about how to cope with being a freshman at college and finding the line between getting ass and meeting someone. Ryan gets naked and begins to sport a thong made of gift wrapping paper. I really didn't think he was that drunk. Predator is back on. I guess someone turned it off. But I had to go now. I take a picture of Ryan in his wrapping paper thong, and say my goodbyes. I'll see some of these people next week when I go back up. I'll see some next time I'm home. I'll see the rest within the next two years; maybe at a wedding or another going away party or a welcome back party. The goodbyes seemed long as I walked out the door, but I know as I was saying "bye" I felt a brevity that I didn't expect. As if everyone in the room expected to see me tomorrow, or that this hadn't been the first time in at least six months we had seen eachother. The drive home was tough. The rain wasn't forgiving and fog is just annoying. I know my windows fog up easily, and even worse, wash after wash, the streaks never seem to leave my windsheild. It was hard to see the road lines, but it was the perfect weather to think. I had to keep my mind active somehow to ensure that I stayed awake. But in the end I thought more than just about the road and the cars ahead of me and the deer in the trees. I know that whichever side of this state I am on, I will be in good company. I haven't had a night like tonight in the LV for so long. Its simpler nights like this that haven't happened in Pittsburgh in a while, so its easy to take for granted. But I know I am content where ever I go. I know good people, and I'm fucking glad I do.