Where were you when I needed you most?
I’m making this post from Zach’s computer in Watertown, South Dakota. I’ve been here for almost three weeks now; it feels like it’s been about three days, like I should be here for a few more months.
The drive up here was ridiculous, but considering we stopped to take a forty-five minute break somewhere in Missouri, we made good time. It was a mostly uneventful drive, save the fact that my car’s hood wasn’t locked and it almost flew off about two hundred miles into the trip! I realized most states look exactly the same, except Iowa. If you live in Iowa, I’m so sorry. It was cool seeing St. Louis though, I’d never been there- it completely sucked driving through it, because one of the interstates was closed, so everyone was on the other interstate. I drank four energy drinks, ate some chips and dip, and listened to a whooole lot of music, all facilitated by my co-pilot Hillary. We had a good time talking and ranting about drivers and the boring-ness of interstates. Towards the end we got very tired, but the last 200 or so mile stretch of interstate, in South Dakota, has a speed limit of 75 mph, so we were cruising.
When we got to Zach and Eric’s house, I’m sure we were both really nervous. I know Hillary was, I had to practically yell at her to get out of the car, (plus she’d chain smoked like five cigarettes IN MY CAR) [ps. if you read this Hillary, sorry about that, it was my own nervousness coming through]. We greeted them, or they greeted us, and we got our stuff out of the car and went inside. We all sat in the livingroom in awkwardness, and mostly Zach and I talked, ‘cause Eric is generally quiet anyway and my sister was probably still smoking. Eventually though, Eric went to sleep and so I went to sleep as well. It’s only kind of odd and awkward sleeping in someone’s bed who you haven’t actually “met” before, (understatement) but we stayed up most of the night talking, or at least I did, so it wasn’t so bad. After a few days, the awkwardness between everyone kind of dissolved and it wasn’t so bad. During the days while Eric and Zach worked, Hillary and I hung around the house playing Rock Band a whole lot. I beat the solo tour on Hard- you’d think that would have taken me most of the trip, but I did it in two days, ha.
While I’ve been up here, I’ve eaten out a whole lot more than I usually do, and cooked more than I usually do. I’ve watched a lot of tv and played more video games than I thought I could stand. I’ve been on the computer less than I’ve thought was physically possible, without withdrawls, and I’ve talked to my parents less than I thought they’d ever allow. I’ve swam in a lake that was freezing cold, and I’ve layed on a blanket near the same lake looking at the stars, (no light pollution up here, yippee!). I’ve “driven around” (literally) listening to music and talking. I have a new definition and idea of the saying “middle of nowhere”, and I have a new appreciation for not living near a big city. I’ve found a boy I really like, and I’ve realized I’m completely ready to grow up some.
Jenny.
