Blog 27 - Family and Friends

I'm writing this blog from the Raleigh-Durham airport in North Carolina...

It's only Wednesday, but it feels like I've been up for a week. My trip to North Carloina was short but sweet. I was supposed to be here till Friday, April 29th but I was struck with devastating family news and had to find a flight back to San Diego in a hurry.

I flew to North Carolina to meet some friends that I've known since 2007: Ed, Michele, and Michael.

I got into my hotel room in Durham, NC around 9:45am EST. I met up with my friend Michael at the hotel. We called up Ed and went over his and Michele's place. It was kind of awkward at first but comfortable at the same time. These are people I've talked to andplayed video games with for a long time. It waas was "strangely familiar."

Michele had to work, but the three of us went to have lunch at a pretty cool restaurant in Hillsborough. Culture shock definitely sit in: I was amazed at how slow everything ran. I don't mean that people were slow as in being inefficient or anything.. The pace of life was just so different. Everyone took their time to say hello, to see how you were doing, and all around... Wholesome and friendly. That's something very different from living in Southern California for the past 27ish years.

After lunch, we we this organic/natural shop called Co-Op to buy.. Lots and lots of beers. We were definitely going to drink it up that night. And we did... Maybe not in the original intention. We even got a bottle of mead just because it sounded medevil and cool. We also went to Walmart to get lots of meats to BBQ: hamburgers, steaks, and hot dogs.

I also got to meet Ed and Michele's three boys: John, Derrick, and Chris. Three really well mannered and intelligent kids. John is a very responsible kid. Working and going to school. Something that I am all to familiar with. Derrick was very well mannered and a huge MMO gamer. I was really taken by their youngest, Chris. Probably because he plays trumpet but more because of his level of intelligence. That little boy has a huge vocabulary for his age. Ed and Michele told us stories about how he gets picked on, but I have no doubt he will grow up to be one very intelligent and successful kid.

Around 9:15pm EST, I received a call from my mom that my grandpa collapsed and didn't have a pulse... He was rushed to the hospital and the whole family was on their way. I broke down. It ws really difficult to hear my mom crying over the phone. I could just hear her heart breaking... As was mine... Just this passed weekend my mom suggested that I help my grandpa in his garden he was starting... That was going to be one the first things I was going to prep for when I got back from my little trip.... I was going to buy hats, gloves, and gardening tools... I was looking forward to hearing more of my grandpa's stories.

I wish... I should've been around more often...

Anyways...

I really didn't want to make things "weird" around my friends... After all, it was the first time I was meeting them all in person and I didn't want to make people feel uncomfortable. I really hope i didnt.

Right away, everyone knew there was something wrong and Michele was the first person to ask me what was going on. I just started crying... My grandpa's health was something he's fought with for some time... I knew this day would come, but I was really hoping he would be around to see me graduate with my MBA. I knew he was proud of me, but... It was something I was really wishing and praying for.

The rest of the night was full of stories, drinking, and the occasional laughter. Michele and Ed shared a lot of stories about their families. And they gave me a lot of emotional support. If anything, I think this event kind of brought all of us a little bit closer. I dont necessarily like how everything turned out but I'm still very grateful that I got to meet them all. This definitely wont be the last time I will see them.

We just sat at table talking for hours... I mostly just listened and starred blankly at the table and my phone... But it was nice to have friends around to listen to. We eventually wrapped everything up around 2:30am.

This morning around 11:30ish... Michael and I had breakfast before he left to drive back home and me to the airport.

Now it's 2:31pm EST... My plane arrives in about an hour and I'll be back in San Diego around 9:15pm PST. I'm headed straight for my grandma's house where all my relatives and family are... I hope my grandma is doing okay...

What a crazy couple days it's been...

Day 4 - Frank's Birthday and Good Friends

Sorry for the late post, but I just got home from a night out with some friends to celebrate my friend's, Frank, birthday!

Sometimes it's so easy to take your friends for granted: you get a text or phone call from a friend asking you to come out and play, but you make up some excuse because you just want to stay home.  I'll be honest, I've done it before and I'm sure all of you have done it as well.  I love my friends.  They're the people you can just be yourself, laugh and have a good time.

Tonight, we, along with Frank's family, friends, and coworkers, went to West Coast Tavern in San Diego to have dinner and some drinks.  I ordered the salmon and it was delicious AND FREE!!  A benefit for being patient and polite with the waitress that forgot to put my order on the ticket.  Afterwards, we went to Bourbon Street for more drinks and a little dancing.

West Coast Tavern

some friends and new ones

Frank and Stephen - two great guys that make me laugh

I'm really glad I got to spend time with all of 'em before the New Years.  I'm definitely blessed with great friends who know how to make me laugh and let me be... me.  Those are the friends that, I think, everyone should have.  Too many people these days will have friends just because they fit some kind of label, they're good looking, they're popular, or, worse yet, they (eventually) want to "get it on."  Good friends, and I mean the really good ones that will always be there and don't care who you are and what color your hair might be (etc), are rare commodities and go well beyond "skin deep."

"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." ~ Dr. Seuss