Did you know that there are people who make a living out of collecting semen samples from horses? And did you know that well vodka—or any well liquor for that matter—is the cheap liquor served at bars—often kept in a well near the bar and used in mixed drinks—rather than the more expensive kinds of liquor kept in bottles on shelves behind the bar—and that whatever the well liquor is can change depending on the bar tender’s choice? These are just two of the fascinating pieces of information that I garnered from my weekend in Charleston with my bowling team, “The Force.” [FYI. None of us knew what "well vodka" was when we saw it advertised on a sign that we drove by. So I suppose I should thank yahoo answers for enlightening us!]
If you followed the Stanley Chronicles and my other posts on Facebook over the weekend, then you followed a somewhat complete map of my weekend journey. What you could not follow, however, were the many interesting conversations, moments of laughter, odd high fives of triumph, noises of frustration...or the silent pep talks that I gave myself throughout the weekend.
By now, I think we all know that The Thinker tends to work overtime. This reality, coupled with my N-ness on the Myers Briggs Personality Type Indicator, means that even when I don’t try, I think and remember thoughts and moments that span the entirety of my life. Let me give you an example of my brain activity over the weekend in Charleston:
• At the first bowling alley, seeing a woman whose face I recognized: “We’ve bowled her before. She was helping at one our tournaments. We bowled beside her and she was really good and she intimidated me but she was really nice. I should go speak to her.” So I went and spoke to her and she hugged me and I hugged her and then she only bowled a 208. She was below her average for the day.
• Upon going to downtown Charleston: “Where’s the hotel that the youth group and I stayed in when we came on a mission trip to Charleston? Are they tearing it down? I wonder where the teams stay now. Do teams still come during the summer? We went to the beach and handed out water and I had to drive the church van and driving the church van in Charleston isn’t very fun because it’s so big and there’s a lot of traffic and narrow roads and finding parking was tricky. And we went on a horse and buggy ride and horse poop stinks and I’m afraid of horses.”
• While eating lunch at a little Italian place: “This looks like the Italian place that we ate at in NYC. That was the best Italian food I’ve ever had. That was a fun trip. I miss Angela.”
• While walking around downtown Charleston: “One of my best friends from childhood lives in Charleston. I wish I had her number. We used to sit at the piano and play ‘Up From The Grave He Arose.’ I really need to get her number into my phone.”
• While watching an “artist” perform as a human mannequin: “Rachel Elizabeth Dare was a gold human mannequin in one of the Percy Jackson books. I wonder if there are ghosts and spirits all around us but that we can’t see because of the mist.”
• While standing at The Battery looking at the water: “I wish I could go down and pick up the trash that I see. Human exploitation. Sigh. I went on a Harbor Tour with the women from FBC Erwin. We had a lot of good times down here—staying at the Isle of Palms—going on retreats together. I miss those retreats. And those women. But if I went on a Harbor Ride now I’d have to take motion sickness medicine. The first time I got motion sick was in the car going to Connecticut for Liz’s wedding and then we went to NYC where we had that good Italian food and saw Wicked. That’s such a good show. I’d like to see it again.”
• While walking back to the car: “I meant to visit Charleston with some of my friends. I hope I still get to do it. But I don’t know that I will since we’re not as close anymore. I know that growing apart is normal, but I still hate it. And missing people. Oh God, I miss so many people. But...you’re having fun now, Deanna. You’re with friends now. Laughing and having a good time and making new memories. Be present. Right here. Right now. Breathe...”
• While bowling on Sunday: “Relax. Just because you placed in the overall standings in the city tournament doesn’t mean that you’re going to do that here. Stop putting so much pressure on yourself. Just relax. Have fun. Do your best. It’s okay. You’re not a failure.”
And...that was just a sampling...and many of those thoughts included other memories and details and feelings that are too complicated to write down. What’s even more complicated is the reality that I often have all of these thoughts at once. Sometimes I catch myself thinking about thinking about thinking about what I’m thinking.
As I’ve watched the rain fall outside today and reflected on my weekend—which was really a lovely weekend—I’ve been reminded of a song that I wrote many years ago. I’ll close today with some of the lyrics to that song (which I’m pretty sure I’ve posted before) and the prayer that each of us—including me with my N-driven Thinker—will slow down and see what’s right in front of us rather than always looking behind or ahead or before...
Tomorrow is today in this crazy world I live
Yesterday rings on right now
One eye focused on the future,
One eye focused on the past
I’m blinded to this present life I live
Lord slow me down
And help me see clearly
What I need to see the morning I wake up
Lord slow me down
And help me hear the rain fall
Instead of looking for the sun to come up
Lord slow me down
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