On the Road
I visited my good friend Tayla at UMASS Amherst this weekend. I always forget what it's like to live on a campus, surrounded by other students. When I'm done with class, I flee campus like a bat out of hell. I don't regret the choice I made to commute to school and yet, I see what I missed out on every time I visit my friends at their schools...Then dumb boys open their mouths and vomit in the stall two feet from you - and you remember why you love living at home so much.
Friday was a long, interesting night of: a less than impressive operatic musical production, disgusting Fireball whiskey, and freshmen boys who tried to hit on me regardless that they were only in their boxers and whom I had just witnessed them vomiting.
In-between all of those things however, there were lots of adventures, tons of coffee and endless laughter. I got to have my first chai tea at a little coffee shop where I got to pretend I was a cool hipster college student and I even got homework done! On a Friday afternoon, no less! I ran into an old friend from high school who suddenly became somewhat attractive and a lot more mature than I seem to recall.
Tayla's friends are mostly from her time in marching band and they were friendly, kind and funny as hell. I was grateful that they welcomed me into their group with open arms and I'm glad she's made a home for herself, surrounded by lovely people.
Saturday was Northampton Day, with BRUNCH and shopping. Brunch is my all-time favorite; I can eat breakfast food until it grows out my ears. Sylvester's is a homey place that serves enormous portions for very reasonable prices. I mean, just look at the size of those pancakes! Plus you can see the massive turkey sausage patty and two eggs; there was an entire plate of homefries that were off to the side and wouldn't fit in the frame... (Side note: Homefries > hashbrowns, hands down).
There was an Urban Outfitters that was inside an old, refurbished bank; the teller windows are still inside! I found myself (as usual) wanting to buy out the entire contents of a cozy used bookstore. I limited myself to two books though; I'm very proud of my self-control. Tayla and I finished off our afternoon with iced lattes from The Roost, which is actually partnered with Amherst Coffee (I knew there was a similar vibe the minute I walked through the door)! We went to her friend's choir recital; it was exceptional and moved me to tears. Performed in a small church, the acoustics were fabulous. The soprano solo (performed by the wife of the director) almost made me want to be a soprano again... almost.
It was hard saying goodbye to Tayla, even though her spring break is only three weeks away. My friend was the young girl who fangirl-ed me after my high school production of Into the Woods. The kid I affectionately described as "Patty Simcox on crack" with unsurmountable enthusiasm and a heart wide open is now grown up and in college.
I like to think of her as an extra little sister who I've only ever desired to protect from the world - from all the mistakes I've made. Yet this trip has proven to me that she's capable of doing it all - making mistakes, laughing, getting her heart broken, having adventures.
Dear Tayla:
You make me laugh, and you hug me when I cry. You make me frustrated with your naive trustfulness of the everyone, but you teach me that the world isn't as evil as I assume it to be. You remind me that "a ship in harbor is safe, but that is not why ships are built". You encourage me to face my fears and hold my hand if I stumble.
To my peer, my companion, my equal, my "extra sister", my friend...
Thank you for being you.
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