First thing I learned is that a red eye flight ain't easy [my humble respects to
Mr. Dash who did like 100 red eye flights for Six Apart]. I think I was pretty much sleepy the whole time I was there, except for maybe a few hours in the afternoon.
Despite that, I had a wonderful trip. I have to say, I was sorta amused when first thinking of going to Jacksonville, NC for Dav's 20th high school reunion. I was thinking it would be fascinating to see such a different culture for me. I really don't know what middle America is like. To me, San Francisco is very "American" but I'm learning that in fact it's not. I happened to find this city, fall in love with it, and end up choosing to live in America because of it, but it really doesn't represent BIG America. It's a small island with a culture of its own.
So NC is "a trip" for me. I observe and think a lot when I'm there. [Um, actually, I've only been to NC once before so when I say "there" I'm referring to being outside of SF]. This visit was my second time to NC, but I still expected to feel like a real outsider.
[speaking of the last trip to NC, I loved my solo NC-->NJ ride back then]
For sure, I did feel like an outsider. What I saw only made me want to stay on the outside. Big cars, big roads, never-ending strip malls, bad heavy food, big boring houses...OK, I'm not proud of saying that, but I have to admit it's what I saw. It's so different from SF. The town's love and dedication to the military - manifested with bumper stickers, lawn signs, people's shirts, and gigantic church signs - is strong in Jacksonville. It also made me feel like an outsider.
However, everyone I met was super friendly and genuine. Even strangers just seemed friendlier. Everyone I met at the reunion was immediately open to me, and some poured out their life updates to me like I was an old friend. I wanted to get to know them more. I really truthfully enjoyed meeting everyone I did.
I also got to hear some amazing stories about Dav. It's one thing to visit one of his old friends and hear them talk, but quite another to get 3 or more together to start walking down memory lane in the way they used to banter together. I absolutely loved it. Dav, by the way, along with his friends, was quite the crazy rascal! Compared to me, who always followed rules, how did we end up together?
By the way, check out the picture showing two arms. If you look closely, there are line scars on both. Dav had told me about his: a cut made to bond with his friend. And voila! There was THE Bobby Holland Dav told me about, with matching scars (and story) to prove. That's really really cool...that they did that, and 20 years later can bond over that.
So it wasn't just a wonderful trip. It was educational in so many senses of the word. Plus, I got to discover hushpuppies! I also saw something like line dancing for the first time in my life (2nd pic). Still not sure. But at the reunion dinner/dance, they had music and a dance floor which I was eager to hit at the time. But when the music started and I got up, they were ALL dancing in the same way. I obviously had no idea what they were doing so I couldn't dance! Later, much later, it opened up. By then I had too much wine...
I do want to send a special wave to Ele and Will who hosted us in Raleigh. It was awesome hanging out with y'all!
Finally, I really missed my cats this time. Just 4 days! I love re-bonding with them when I get back...although Kats insisted on giving the cold shoulder the first night I was back. Only in the next morning did he nudge me for a hug. I love that I have to earn his love.
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