(no subject)
It's been almost 9 months since my last true update. The journal proves to be a worthy litmus test with regards to how busy my life is; the more I post, the less is going on. I suppose most of you know what's going on with my life these days, thanks to Twitter. We've stopped posting due to our new 140 character outlet, but this journal will always have a place in my heart and will likely be a place I continue to visit and update. 140 characters is too short.
Since last we talked, the business has moved to Olive Branch, right by the airport. It's a wonderful location and something that continually proves it was the right decision, though a tad impulsive, given the building was purchased at auction. As much as I am glad to be off McLemore, I'm going to miss it. We moved in there the day I was born, myself visiting the location at age three days. I'll miss the community around it, the beggars dropping by to ask for food, money, work, etc. I'll miss the great food and the unusual talking points it provided. It opened my eyes to so many things I never thought I'd see. I saw two heinous crimes that I wouldn't have seen otherwise, in all likely hood. I doubt I'd witness many gang shootings and murder via a 2x4 in Collierville. And as frightening as some of these events were, I know it's made me a far less sheltered person, and for that I am thankful.
I've attended my first bachelor party, which was far more incredible than I anticipated, but those are talking points for those that shared it with me. In conjunction, I've attended two weddings, both Catholic, and both completely different, but wonderful times, nonetheless. And next weekend, I'll watch Courtnay walk down the aisle. Our friendship hasn't been the best as of late, and I doubt it will ever go back to the way it was. A relationship like ours can't really last like it did once one of the people gets married. I'm thankful for knowing her and for everything she's done for me. I don't really know the guy she's marrying, but I'm sure he'll treat her right. Here's to my 15 years.
My grandmother lived with us for 3 or 4 months after she fell and broke her hip. That made life stressful and taxing for a while, but we got through and now she's back at home.
I traveled to D.C. in late October and had a wonderful time. I'd really like to go again and do it all over and perhaps I will. During our stay, I became a Metro pro and helped other tourists find the right trains. I saw the American History museum, the Air and Space museum out by Dulles airport and checked out the other usual things. I even got into the reading room at the Library of Congress, which takes more than just walking in. Marsha Blackburn is getting a letter from me, because her interns are shit. I tried for three days to get tickets for a tour of Congress, but no such luck. I sat in on a Georgetown law class and had to restrain myself from answering the professor's questions. I had a lot more fun doing that than I expected. Georgetown itself is a great area and I loved walking around there. We tried a bar that reminded me of the Tap Room, but they were out of almost everything, so we left after our single beer and went to a cool little place down the road that had a $2 mix drink special. We made good use of that.
And I visited Arlington Cemetery. On a prior trip, I'd visited the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, as well as Lee's house and Kennedy's eternal flame. This trip, however, I only had one place I wanted to visit. When I got there, I walked into the welcome center and I guess I looked sad, because one of the docents immediately directed me to a kiosk. I entered the name I was looking for, confirmed it was the right one, and then set off to find the marker. I still have the piece of paper, listing all the details. It took me 10 minutes or so of walking to locate the right marker. All the while I was passed by buses carrying Army soldiers from a recent funeral where they served as the detail. Something about that place really got to me. I saw a casket draped with a flag being moved to a site via a horse-drawn cart. I eventually reached the marker for Andy Stern, and as I got down on my knee, the first volley of a 21 gun salute sounded in the distance. I lost it at that point, and couldn't stop the tears. I sat there in silence for a while, and then I spoke with Andy and prayed. As I was leaving, I placed a small stone on the top of his marker, nestling it with the others that former visitors had left.
I tried Afghan cuisine for the first time while in DC and even sampled a drink called "dogh," which is made from yogurt, water, cucumber and salt. I didn't know about the salt until it arrived. Interesting, but I can't imagine it's a really great thirst quencher.
As for future plans, I still intend to be in Europe early next spring until I feel like coming home or the money runs out. Chris has kinda bailed on me, so if you can go around that time, give me a holler, though I don't expect anyone will be able to, but I'm ok with going solo. After that, I'm hoping to save for a while longer, and travel to South America or do a program similar to JET and work abroad for a bit. After that, I'll either do grad school or work. Either way, I doubt it'll be in Memphis. I need to get this all settled, though. Leigh was right when she told me I needed to take a day for me and work all this out. As it stands, these are just well-intentioned dreams.
As for you all, I hope you're doing well. If I haven't seen you in a while, I hope to do so soon. If I have seen you recently, I'll probably see again on Wednesday.
All my love
Since last we talked, the business has moved to Olive Branch, right by the airport. It's a wonderful location and something that continually proves it was the right decision, though a tad impulsive, given the building was purchased at auction. As much as I am glad to be off McLemore, I'm going to miss it. We moved in there the day I was born, myself visiting the location at age three days. I'll miss the community around it, the beggars dropping by to ask for food, money, work, etc. I'll miss the great food and the unusual talking points it provided. It opened my eyes to so many things I never thought I'd see. I saw two heinous crimes that I wouldn't have seen otherwise, in all likely hood. I doubt I'd witness many gang shootings and murder via a 2x4 in Collierville. And as frightening as some of these events were, I know it's made me a far less sheltered person, and for that I am thankful.
I've attended my first bachelor party, which was far more incredible than I anticipated, but those are talking points for those that shared it with me. In conjunction, I've attended two weddings, both Catholic, and both completely different, but wonderful times, nonetheless. And next weekend, I'll watch Courtnay walk down the aisle. Our friendship hasn't been the best as of late, and I doubt it will ever go back to the way it was. A relationship like ours can't really last like it did once one of the people gets married. I'm thankful for knowing her and for everything she's done for me. I don't really know the guy she's marrying, but I'm sure he'll treat her right. Here's to my 15 years.
My grandmother lived with us for 3 or 4 months after she fell and broke her hip. That made life stressful and taxing for a while, but we got through and now she's back at home.
I traveled to D.C. in late October and had a wonderful time. I'd really like to go again and do it all over and perhaps I will. During our stay, I became a Metro pro and helped other tourists find the right trains. I saw the American History museum, the Air and Space museum out by Dulles airport and checked out the other usual things. I even got into the reading room at the Library of Congress, which takes more than just walking in. Marsha Blackburn is getting a letter from me, because her interns are shit. I tried for three days to get tickets for a tour of Congress, but no such luck. I sat in on a Georgetown law class and had to restrain myself from answering the professor's questions. I had a lot more fun doing that than I expected. Georgetown itself is a great area and I loved walking around there. We tried a bar that reminded me of the Tap Room, but they were out of almost everything, so we left after our single beer and went to a cool little place down the road that had a $2 mix drink special. We made good use of that.
And I visited Arlington Cemetery. On a prior trip, I'd visited the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, as well as Lee's house and Kennedy's eternal flame. This trip, however, I only had one place I wanted to visit. When I got there, I walked into the welcome center and I guess I looked sad, because one of the docents immediately directed me to a kiosk. I entered the name I was looking for, confirmed it was the right one, and then set off to find the marker. I still have the piece of paper, listing all the details. It took me 10 minutes or so of walking to locate the right marker. All the while I was passed by buses carrying Army soldiers from a recent funeral where they served as the detail. Something about that place really got to me. I saw a casket draped with a flag being moved to a site via a horse-drawn cart. I eventually reached the marker for Andy Stern, and as I got down on my knee, the first volley of a 21 gun salute sounded in the distance. I lost it at that point, and couldn't stop the tears. I sat there in silence for a while, and then I spoke with Andy and prayed. As I was leaving, I placed a small stone on the top of his marker, nestling it with the others that former visitors had left.
I tried Afghan cuisine for the first time while in DC and even sampled a drink called "dogh," which is made from yogurt, water, cucumber and salt. I didn't know about the salt until it arrived. Interesting, but I can't imagine it's a really great thirst quencher.
As for future plans, I still intend to be in Europe early next spring until I feel like coming home or the money runs out. Chris has kinda bailed on me, so if you can go around that time, give me a holler, though I don't expect anyone will be able to, but I'm ok with going solo. After that, I'm hoping to save for a while longer, and travel to South America or do a program similar to JET and work abroad for a bit. After that, I'll either do grad school or work. Either way, I doubt it'll be in Memphis. I need to get this all settled, though. Leigh was right when she told me I needed to take a day for me and work all this out. As it stands, these are just well-intentioned dreams.
As for you all, I hope you're doing well. If I haven't seen you in a while, I hope to do so soon. If I have seen you recently, I'll probably see again on Wednesday.
All my love