ash.
after a much needed phone call with my friend, jill, i rounded the curves near the north end of maple lake, waited for my signal to return and dialed ash's number.
you've not ever heard of my friend ash, so let me tell you a little about him.
my last summer at camp was not one that introduced many lasting relationships with the summer staff. i spent most of my time with the family i'd created throughout the winter amongst the permanent staff. i lived at camp. i wasn't just there for the summer. that alone put me on a different schedule.
but one day, i sat next to this guy who was allowed to hang around on the weekends because going home meant driving to texas and that didn't really fit into a two day weekend. i kind of knew him, had ridden with him and others to church on sunday and watched a movie or two with him. but that thursday, after asking all my friends to go with me to madison for joel & nicole's wedding on saturday, i sat down on the front porch of the dining hall. minutes later, ash garza sat next to me. and on a whim, after having given up on going, i asked him, what are you doing this weekend? do you want to go to a wedding with me? his answer made me think he was mocking me because i had never met a guy that loved weddings, but he swore he did. so we made a plan and early saturday morning, we set off.
what a fantastic ride that was. perhaps my favorite ever. this guy, who had made waves at camp by bringing his texas gentlemanly manners with him, turned out to be this incredibly real and funny guy. bumps in the day were never worthy enough to incur a rise in blood temperature or frustration. on the way down, i commented on the sorry state of his windshield wipers, to which he replied, well it doesn't rain in texas. and, he mentioned, they didn't work anyway. it became really funny when it poured 80% of the 6 hr ride back to motley.
we laughed. we talked. he introduced me to "real" country. we came away with inside jokes and a friendship i think i'll always cherish.
after all was said and done that summer, life got rough for me. and i remember ash that fall. i remember him being so stinking loyal. and he was super goofy. he and rudy together meant an endless bout of laughter. and when he went off to iraq that winter, i missed him like crazy. it's not every day you meet up with someone so real. so genuine.we have kept in very loose contact these last few years, but i cherish even that. tonight when i called though, i didn't get ash. i got some guy whose name i think is purdy bows. which is funny. and i'm certain cannot be right. i didn't want to offend him, so i only asked once. but he knows ash and was going to give my number to ash's mama. and that's who i wait for. because it's been incredibly too long since i've talked to him.
cold & crazy.
this morning found me at 4:15. i joined it at 4:30 and after a leisurely half hour, made my way to the target here in maple grove.
i liked driving so early in the morning. there were so few cars and the stars were out and the air was so crisp. it's been a long time. i miss it.
5:30 found me as the 11th in line to get the cities 97 sampler. brother ben asks for this every year for his birthday and i, his loving sister, stand in line to ensure i get one for him. this year, i went a bit earlier than usual, in an attempt to miss a bit less work. and i met three people i hope to see there again next year when i roll out of bed at 4:30 to join them. susie, julie & al helped the two and a half hours fly by like it was an hour. we held each other's spots while we made runs to mcdonald's for breakfast sandwiches & coffee. al offered me his boots when my shoes were proving to be ill chosen. i didn't take him up on it, but i was pretty grateful for the offer. these were definitely people i want to see again. even if it's not until next november.
you're crazy, julie, you say. well, perhaps. but consider this:
right behind me in line slept six people in various sleeping bags and tents that were waiting for the play station 3 coming out tomorrow. they've been there since early last night. one guy paid another guy $200 for the coveted and final sixth spot.
see, i'm not so crazy.
geek day.
today is a good day. i didn't know it was going to be such a good day, but it is. see, today, i get to run my numbers for the database. i get to figure out percentages and averages and it makes me so happy. if only everyone could be so excited about their work like i am today. and it's on days like this that i truly realize how much of a geek i am. it's a good day.
beyond our doors.
you know i've been busy, but i haven't really been specific about what's keeping me busy. well, one of the projects i've been working on is a photography gallery focusing on north minneapolis and africa. i, of course, have only been working on the north minneapolis ones, which i've been doing with scott madison, who is an incredibly talented guy. the africa guy is another amazing photographer named terry eiswald. i'd like to invite you all to come to the opening, which is this saturday (the 11th) at 6:30. it's in the gallery at church of the open door. there'll be food and music (a pegtog reunion which you won't want to miss) and photographs. and i'll be there. which for some, just may be the reason they come! ;)let me know if you need directions or have any other questions.
life.
this morning, i detest my 9 to 5.i stepped out my back door into a fantastic fall morning. it was quiet, save for the occasional bird. the ground was wet, the air damp, but merely cool. and it smelled of fall. early morning wet fall. and i'm saddened that i could not make a cup of tea and be a part of that morning. because i was made for that so much more than this.
regurgitation.
as i continue to be busy well past my normal busy season, i keep thinking it would be nice to have an assistant. not necessarily to help me with the photography end of things, but to run errands and wash the dishes. pass out halloween candy, get my oil changed. and blog my funny thoughts. which, really, would be quite the assistant. because not only would she (or he... i would certainly not mind a he) have to be really organized and meticulous about cleaning and folding my socks, she would need to be witty and clever, know what was in my head and regurgitate my thoughts into something worth reading. something to make you laugh. or cry. or whatever. (because i'm all about the whatever, you know)and she'd have to do it all for free, because i don't have room in my budget to pay an assistant. like i said, quite the assistant.and on a complete tangent, i'd like you to know that i'm pretty sure this is the very first time i have ever written or typed the word regurgitate. it's all in the little things, friends. all in the little things.
