Weekend trips were much more exciting in South Africa.
Ok, so I came to this realization this weekend as I laid on the dock on Glen Lake sipping a mojito and admiring the Caribbean-like blue water. I decided that I can't continue to live the rest of this year comparing this state to that country so I compiled a list of things that I like and dislike about the state of Michigan, this is what I came up with.
Perhaps it's more beautiful than I give it credit for. I mean, we've got all those lakes and think of all those sailboats on those lakes. Having lakes like oceans (where you can't see the other side) is a great thing, fresh water means no sharks and no salt which makes my skin dry; plus said lakes are (kinda?) much warmer than some larger bodies of water. We have lots of trees that become pretty colors during autumn. We have a speed limit of 70mph. Thunderstorms. We're not Ohio. The weather can be nice for, like, 2 months a year. Ok well, and I suppose the snow is neat when it's fresh and doesn't look all dirty from the city and cars. My mother has cultivated a lovely garden with enough tomatoes to feed our entire family with tomato-related dinners for a month. The path next to the river somewhat encourages me to jog.
BUT there are also nagging things you can't avoid, like mosquitos. Lots of them. Wanting to bite me. The fact that for the most part it's flat, really flat. Boys and their stupid fancy cars with loud music. Corn fields (could we be any more like Ohio?). Humidity. Another year of school (this directly relates because if I didn't have school there's a possibility I would be somewhere else).
See? So logically because my pros list is much longer than my cons list one would think I wouldn't have much reason to complain. I can't outright say, "well, it's not Cape Town" or "it's not Seattle" or "AVH isn't here." The point is that it's all so much the same....I find myself taking a deep breath, knowing that I have a lot to figure out in my life over the next year.
[By the way, I'm allowed to bash Ohio because I'm half Ohio-in.]
"Up North" was nice though. I (still) continued to crawl through "Love in the Time of Cholera," fell asleep reading it no matter how hard or soft my sitting surface was. Kayaked around the lake, arms burning. Tried to catch a turtle but it was too quick for us, instead fished a green plastic watering-can and a blue rope out of the lake. Went for an 8 mile bike ride around the lake and didn't die. The water was even warm enough for me to swim in.
JR and I discussed weight issues as she complained that my boobs got bigger. (complained! can you believe it?) I told her I got bigger in general so it didn't matter. Eh the stresses of being a female.
I'm impressed with my ability to sound so up-beat and happy. This evening after we arrived home I sat on the floor of my room, surrounded by mess and began to cry. I haven't cried about leaving in a handful of days. "Kingdom Come" (Coldplay) snuck into my playlist and I was dragged back to nights in AVH's room when he would sing that song. And so between piles of yet-to-be-folded clothes I covered my face with my hands and cried.
"Hold my head inside your hands
I need someone who understands
I need someone, someone who hears
For you, I've waited all these years"
Oh those days....
1 comment:
The lists remind me of a cheap pickup line my brother does when drunk. He says I think it is Jefferson made lists to make decisions, than lists the pros of why you should go out with them and when you can't list enough cons, which you can't because he has the pros memorized, he says you have to go out with him. Me, I just don't make decisions.
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