Home sweet home
Karma goes around and around…
So today I took my final exam for Women in Antiquity (not too bad, I think I…passed) and then headed off to CW to frantically sell my books and buy last minute Christmas presents. Can you imagine they sell pickled watermelon rind in the Cheese Shop?? And once more that my mother actually asked me to buy some for my grandma, my uncle and his partner in California??? The world is an astounding place…
Anyways, so I proceeded to spend the next 3 hours in my room, packing and watching Spin City (the not so fun episodes with NO Michael J. Fox). And when I say packing, I mean like literally sitting on my two suitcases and trying to zip them close - only to realize that I needed to fit some sweatshirts in there… After repeated incidences like this, I FINALLY finished and fit all my crap into two suitcases, my backpack, my purse and rather large plastic bag - now I just needed to carry it down to the Amtrak station…
Fuck.
This dilemma turned out to be much bigger than I anticipated. I managed to get all my stuff out the door and down the steps from the Barrett front porch - in two trips… I ran into Lauren (not my roommate) on the porch after my second trip and she grinned her fabulously goofy grin and said my name in a rather enthusiastic voice, saying she didn’t realize that I got to leave today. She ran over to me at the bottom of the steps and gave me a hug and then looked down at all my crap - “Do you need any help?” And what did I say?! “No thanks, I think I got it”
What an idiot.
So I stood there for a minute, trying to figure out how to balance all this stuff so I could actually carry it - I slung my backpack and purse on my shoulders and picked up one of the suitcases. Then I had this ingenious idea (maybe not so…) that I should balance the large plastic bag on top of my other suitcase - because it had wheels and I would roll that. I carefully did this and proceeded about 10 feet before the plastic bag slid off, books and presents tumbling out. A random girl passing by stopped and asked if she could help - I smiled and said no thank you and proceeded to balance my shit again. Another ten feet later, the exact thing happened and another girl offered help - this time I actually said “I would you to help, but I’m going to the Amtrak” and she said, “Oh” - which basically translated to “nevermind”.
So by this point, I trudge up to the far side of Jefferson and my jacket is making me rather uncomfortable and that stupid plastic bag kept falling. LIGHTBULB!!! Being the brilliant W&M student that I am, I took off my jacket and wrapped it around the top of the suitcase with the plastic bag inside! Yes, it may not sound that ingenious, but trust me, at the time I was so sore and sweaty, this was like… sweet manna from heaven!
So I made it Confusion Corner and looked at my watch - 4:10. Fuck, it took me over 10 minutes to walk from Barrett to there!! (Note: normally it would take me, say, 2 minutes)
I was now in physical pain (I know I sound like a baby, but not only do I have no upper body strength to speak of, you must to remember I WAY overstuffed these bags, probably adding much more weight than either was intended to hold.) I managed to trek across the street and made it pass Brown. Then, I heard a voice calling out to me.
An Asian couple hurried across the street after me, the woman saying, “You’re going to the train station, right?” I said yes, feeling relief rush through me. She grabbed one of my bags and walked a few feet and then I think realizing how heavy it was, she sent her husband to get their car. Turns out they lived literally a block from where we were standing. The Asian woman was so nice, making small talk - asking about school, my home and other little stuff. Then she asked if I lived in Brown and I told her I lived in Barrett and pointed in the general direction. She gasped, appearing scandalized that I walked all that way already and asked “And no one offered to help you?” I tried to defend all those nice people, explaining that the Amtrak was out of anybody’s way, but she gave me a look that seemed to say “That’s no excuse”
So they both drove me over and the Asian man was just as nice at making small talk. He left me at the station and just sat on the bench, feeling the sensation come back to my hands - they still ache a little.
So basically I felt like sharing this story because it shows Christmas spirit, although I think that couple would have stopped me regardless of what time of year it was - which is a heartwarming thought.
So I've been home for about 3 hours now... man it's good to be home - this month is going to be soooo relaxing, can hardly wait!!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone! Have a super awesome-riffic break!
P.S. - I noticed today while eating lunch that you can donate your extra meal plans and flex points to charity and those less fortunate - it’s great especially since I always have so many left over. Just an idea for when you’re ready to leave - just ask the cashier about a form to fill out.
So today I took my final exam for Women in Antiquity (not too bad, I think I…passed) and then headed off to CW to frantically sell my books and buy last minute Christmas presents. Can you imagine they sell pickled watermelon rind in the Cheese Shop?? And once more that my mother actually asked me to buy some for my grandma, my uncle and his partner in California??? The world is an astounding place…
Anyways, so I proceeded to spend the next 3 hours in my room, packing and watching Spin City (the not so fun episodes with NO Michael J. Fox). And when I say packing, I mean like literally sitting on my two suitcases and trying to zip them close - only to realize that I needed to fit some sweatshirts in there… After repeated incidences like this, I FINALLY finished and fit all my crap into two suitcases, my backpack, my purse and rather large plastic bag - now I just needed to carry it down to the Amtrak station…
Fuck.
This dilemma turned out to be much bigger than I anticipated. I managed to get all my stuff out the door and down the steps from the Barrett front porch - in two trips… I ran into Lauren (not my roommate) on the porch after my second trip and she grinned her fabulously goofy grin and said my name in a rather enthusiastic voice, saying she didn’t realize that I got to leave today. She ran over to me at the bottom of the steps and gave me a hug and then looked down at all my crap - “Do you need any help?” And what did I say?! “No thanks, I think I got it”
What an idiot.
So I stood there for a minute, trying to figure out how to balance all this stuff so I could actually carry it - I slung my backpack and purse on my shoulders and picked up one of the suitcases. Then I had this ingenious idea (maybe not so…) that I should balance the large plastic bag on top of my other suitcase - because it had wheels and I would roll that. I carefully did this and proceeded about 10 feet before the plastic bag slid off, books and presents tumbling out. A random girl passing by stopped and asked if she could help - I smiled and said no thank you and proceeded to balance my shit again. Another ten feet later, the exact thing happened and another girl offered help - this time I actually said “I would you to help, but I’m going to the Amtrak” and she said, “Oh” - which basically translated to “nevermind”.
So by this point, I trudge up to the far side of Jefferson and my jacket is making me rather uncomfortable and that stupid plastic bag kept falling. LIGHTBULB!!! Being the brilliant W&M student that I am, I took off my jacket and wrapped it around the top of the suitcase with the plastic bag inside! Yes, it may not sound that ingenious, but trust me, at the time I was so sore and sweaty, this was like… sweet manna from heaven!
So I made it Confusion Corner and looked at my watch - 4:10. Fuck, it took me over 10 minutes to walk from Barrett to there!! (Note: normally it would take me, say, 2 minutes)
I was now in physical pain (I know I sound like a baby, but not only do I have no upper body strength to speak of, you must to remember I WAY overstuffed these bags, probably adding much more weight than either was intended to hold.) I managed to trek across the street and made it pass Brown. Then, I heard a voice calling out to me.
An Asian couple hurried across the street after me, the woman saying, “You’re going to the train station, right?” I said yes, feeling relief rush through me. She grabbed one of my bags and walked a few feet and then I think realizing how heavy it was, she sent her husband to get their car. Turns out they lived literally a block from where we were standing. The Asian woman was so nice, making small talk - asking about school, my home and other little stuff. Then she asked if I lived in Brown and I told her I lived in Barrett and pointed in the general direction. She gasped, appearing scandalized that I walked all that way already and asked “And no one offered to help you?” I tried to defend all those nice people, explaining that the Amtrak was out of anybody’s way, but she gave me a look that seemed to say “That’s no excuse”
So they both drove me over and the Asian man was just as nice at making small talk. He left me at the station and just sat on the bench, feeling the sensation come back to my hands - they still ache a little.
So basically I felt like sharing this story because it shows Christmas spirit, although I think that couple would have stopped me regardless of what time of year it was - which is a heartwarming thought.
So I've been home for about 3 hours now... man it's good to be home - this month is going to be soooo relaxing, can hardly wait!!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone! Have a super awesome-riffic break!
P.S. - I noticed today while eating lunch that you can donate your extra meal plans and flex points to charity and those less fortunate - it’s great especially since I always have so many left over. Just an idea for when you’re ready to leave - just ask the cashier about a form to fill out.