Friday I raced out of class to start my journey to Oxford. Speed limit signs were merely suggestions as I rocked it down 55. I did get in to town in record time. And I was thrilled to be there. The poodle came over to help me get ready for a night out on the town. I met up with a big group of friends that night at Phillip's. I could have died happy right then and there. Amazing food and great conversation. We took the party to the Square that night.
Sweet Swampy
Saturday. Had a good lunch and some hang out time with friends. That night I headed to BTree for the Charty...yes, the engagement shower for MyH(e)art and her beau...get it? It was so much fun to see everyone and just "be". Just so wonderful to be able to catch up with friends that I hadn't seen since graduation, while actually "seeing" the ones I talk to on a daily/weekly/monthly basis. After the Charty, made a b-line to Boure for some dinner with Jenty and Jbaby. I actually retract my previous statement about dying happy after Phillip's...because my Boure meal was the best I've had in a long while.
After dinner we all went to the Library. Where else would we go? I was actually concerned when we got there because it was Cowboy Mario that night...which always proves to be eventful...but I just wasn't sure I was prepared to watch scantily clad ladies climb up on the bull and ride. Yeah, just wasn't feeling it. He did switch to the regular BoomBoom room music by the time the Charty moved over...hello, dance flo'. Jenty and I hurried down to request a certain, very special song. If you know me well, you know what it was. I got DJ Mario over to the edge of the stage so I could make my request, he said...already got you covered. Ummm yeah he did, because as the words were coming out of my mouth, I could hear the first few beats of MY song being worked in. Thank you, for reading my mind. So of course we dropped it low, brought it up slow...Jenty (especially) on some random man (to give her credit, she thought it was me)...I took a knee during that time to just observe her and laugh hysterically...the look on her face when she realized it wasn't, in fact, me was.......priceless. Looked a little something like....this. And I'm being really serious about that.
Last call came too quickly. When it was time to go, we stepped out of the bar and I saw Dexter walk by. Jenty and I took off in a dead sprint after him. He was with his gf, who was not down for photo-ops at the time. Being the sweet guy that he is, he obliged to take a picture with us...after I told him I was newly a Midwestener myself. Well, three attempts later we realized my camera was on video. Yeah. So I now have three short videos of me, Jenty, and Dex...in statue position...and some lady slurring "I think this thang is in video mode...oh-my-gaaaawiish how do I change iiiiiit? I'm sooooooooo sorry y'all". Woops, sorry bout it.
Valentine's Dance 2, Sir Berry? Stop chasing waterfalls.
Fabulous night. Perfect weekend that also confirmed that chivalry is not dead, but I guess you can only find it in the South. Today I got some good visits in with MyH(e)art, the poodle, and some girls in the Deeg. I got to revisit my former homes in Oxford...nothing has changed. The drive back wasn't nearly as exciting as the one there but I'm thrilled to be home and in my bed.
Don't get me wrong, I love the Big City. It's hard for me to believe that this exact weekend, a year ago, I traveled to the Big City for the first time...for my official visit. I went "knowing" I would never come back. Glad those plans weren't up to me because I came back here...tonight...to the place where I live...in the Big City. What a huge difference a year makes. As hard as the distance is sometimes...the distance between my place and my people... it makes the trips that I do get to have 1,000 times sweeter. I know I appreciate my friendships more...I know I appreciate the time with them more. It always surprises me that I can pick up with each of them, right where we left off. Everything just falls right back into place.
I felt like the best version of myself this weekend. I felt so alive and just comfortable. It was good for my heart and it cleared my mind. I am ready for this next week. It's going to be a good one.
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