A Weekend Long Ago

I wrote this at some point in July (I think). For an embarrassingly long time I couldn't figure out my log in name, so I stopped posting. I'm definitely nt a cyber feminist. In any case, I have since figured it out, so here is a ridiculously old post.

I went home this weekend, and for once I actually enjoyed it. I took the bus home on Friday, and eavesdropped on the conversation of these two people behind me. I made comments in my head for most of the ride, until I realized that one of the people sounded
A lot like someone I would be friends with. So I turned around to ask if he went to Laurier and then preceded to ask in the most creepy manner possible if his name was Chris Clemens. Specific, I know. It’s a fine line between friendly and creepy, and I’m willing to walk that line. Anyway, it turns out that it was Chris, which was strange because we hadn’t actually met before but I still knew who he was.

Anyway, I spent the first part of the weekend with Carly, who’s one of my closest friends. We’ve known each other since we were in kindergarten, and it still amazes me how close we are. Part of me wishes that I still lived across the street from her. But that would mean living in suburbia. We spent the night talking and had a slight (but unwanted) adventure when we were wandering downtown at night. We were walking from Kensington to Baldwin Street (two of the best areas in Toronto) when Carly tells me to keep walking and not turn around because there’s a guy with a gun sitting on the curb behind us. He was just holding the gun in plain sight, and could have easily shot us. For no reason at all. And that simply, it could all be over. It’s strange how our lives are so much more fragile than we realize. One small action from a complete stranger is all it takes. I know this sounds cliché, but when you think about life as something that isn’t promised to us indefinitely, it’s easier to forget about all the crap that doesn’t matter. Like jobs and grades and fights and phone bills. When you think about your life, and the possibility of it ending tomorrow, what do you cherish the most? For me, it’s me relationships. My friends and family. Including my guinea pig. And that feeling of being connected to everything. When you’re watching at a sunset, or feeling the wind in your hair or touching a tree.

I remember someone once made fun of my mindset by making some reference to holding hands in a circle and singing. Possibly in some sort of meadow with sunshine and flowers. And happy squirrels. And I’m okay with that.

Ohhhh, and in other news, Rosa just played me a Shins song featuring Iron and Wine. That makes me happy.