Monday, May 29, 2006

Live as if you were an Epic hero, and you become one

Loyola Beach- where one can find Chicago's old men in thongs- population

Budget is the BEST and I proudly kept them in business.

Every year since I was a freshman in college, I feel like I have undergone dramatic changes. I remember each birthday since then, looking back at the previous year and thinking how quickly everything becomes so different. My environment, relationships, activities, roles, the way and confidence with which I interact with the world around me are all unrecognizable from the way they were each previous year.

Some things, no matter how many birthdays pass, will always stay the same.

The "how do we get out of buying a birthday present without being uncaring parents" game:
Dad: so its your birthday tomorrow, huh? What do you want for your birthday?
Me: oh, you mean I'm not too old for presents? Nah, I don't need anything.
Mom: Wow, you're already 22- this is your lucky year!
I test out the waters
Me: I have been kinda looking at bicycles....
Dad, [looking truly puzzled]: Why would you want a bicycle?
Mom: You can have Diane's old bicycle
Me: the blue one that's five years old that scrapes your knees on the handle bars?
Mom: its not that bad, Diane rode it the other day....
Me: but isn't it really short and don't the gears not work?
Mom: it worked for Diane
Dad: I can make the seat a little higher. You don't need gears- you're a strong runner.
Me: It's ok, I really don't need anything

Another gift bites the dust.....

Park it right there...yeah!

This year my birthday was full of surprises and excitement. Last year my birthday was just weird. I turned 21 and wasn't NOT going to go out...even though all my friends/roomates either had other plans- it WAS a school night- or just weren't the clubbing type and wouldn't make a one time exception.

With the determination to shake my booty and get plastered at a club (respectable, I know), I grabbed the El to a bar near a semi-rival college where I didn't know anyone. I chose this location because my downstairs musician neighbor's band was playing cover that night. I waited outside the bar until it was 11:30... I was nerdy and kinda nervous as I flashed my ID to the bouncer. He let me in even though I had a good 30 mintues until I was officially 21.

At first it was awkward because I was alone in a bar. I was kinda depressed about that but wasn't going to let it get in the way of what could possibly be a wild, CRUNK night. I get near the stage and start to dance- this is my element- what was I worred about?

A guy approaches me tells me his friend has been eyeing me since I came in. Ok, cheesy but wtf- at this point I have nothing to lose. I end up never having to buy a drink the whole night. The guy I'm with doesn't believe its my birthday. "Where are your friends then?" he asks, "Are you just saying that to get free drinks? It doesn't matter, you're funny".

At the close of the bar, I'm trashed. He offers to drive me home. I say yes and get in his car. He doesn't go north, he goes west- clearly NOT to Roger's Park, where I live. He takes me to his place instead. Im very worried. I was so stupid to get in his car! What was I doing? Where was I going?

He takes me to his suburban apartment 20 minutes out of Chicago. He has girly decorations at his place and I obnoxioiusly make fun of them. He explains that he just got his heart broken by his ex-wife, who demanded a divorce. I felt kinda bad. BUT, I felt worse for myself. Not only was this guy divorced, but he was 28... thus clearly NOT the college student I thought he was.

We watched movies for a while but I eventually made him sleep on the couch- either he was going to or I was. He drove me home the next morning and I gave him my number when he asked for it. I was glad to be back. Things turned out weird- but I definately found humor in it.

I didn't feel so great about ignoring his three messages on my phone.

This story ultimately comes down to my philosophy on life. You gotta be bold sometimes and do things just for the sake of being able to say you did them. For me, life has two purposes.

1) Its about how you treat other people- what is life if it isnt about how well we treat each other?
2) Its about collecting adventures- you have to be spontaneous. The life well-lived is the life that has something amusing to tell others.

My purpose #2 causes me to do things I would often never expect a normal person to do. But has resulted in the most smiles and laughs.

Sometime these conflict- for example, me not calling mr. divorced back- but I like to think it was best for everyone....

2 Comments:

At 7:20 AM, Blogger Scott said...

Excellent post. Love the pictures and hope that your birthday yesterday rocked.

Scott

 
At 7:19 PM, Blogger Heather B said...

Lord that is one crazy story! The older I get, the more I miss my old adventures ... your post has inspired to do something fun tomorrow.

 

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