Getting a Little Lost in Evansburg

Today was good. I met my friend Brittany up near Skippack and we "hiked" in Evansburg State Park. I use the word "hiked" lightly because the trail was relatively flat the whole time up and back. But we did spend 3 hours there, enjoying the beautiful day. As much as we hated the spider webs and the potential poison ivy, I enjoyed seeing and talking to Brittany while in the great outdoors. By the end, we were tired and hungry and a little lost so lunch at a small diner really hit the spot. As I drove home, with the windows down and Noah and the Whale blasting, I felt so good. After a rough start, my day really changed and I have to thank Brittany for being the catalyst. So thanks for a great hike and lunch and let's do it again soon.

Effie Gray

I took my first trip to Ambler this afternoon to see Effie Gray, a period piece about a girl Effie who marries the writer John Ruskin. Once super smitten with Ruskin, after marriage, Effie finds out that Ruskin likes to keep to himself and doesn't try to care for Effie at all. She becomes very lonely and sick and Ruskin seems not to notice at all. The two have very different personalities and priorities. As I said to a friend earlier today, it was a sad story but Effie was strong in the end.

After the movie, I took a walk around Ambler, checking out Art in the Storefront and all the little shops. I perused the menus, looking for a delicious place to go with Dan when he returns from jet-setting around Europe. I turned down Main Street and found this sign below at the entrance to a bar. It enlisted a chuckle from me and I hope you do too! Soon after, I got caught in a brief rain shower, taking cover under a tree. Well, it rained harder and longer than I thought it would so I was slightly soaked as I walked back to my car, making back perfectly in time for a sun shower. So many happy things today packed into one afternoon.

First Workout Since Retirement

So I was essentially dragged to Bryn Mawr to run a workout with a running club where I didn't know anyone. My dad recruited us and I don't know why we agreed. I haven't wanted to workout in 3 weeks and I'm practically retired from running. And I got my butt kicked by old guys in short-shorts. Humbling, to say the least. The heat and humidity and the evening time worked against me and I struggled through the workout. But the definite coolest part was the atmosphere. Here was a huge group of relative strangers, brought together by a common (crazy) activity. People were introducing themselves and talking about whatever came to mind. And not to mention the awesome-looking sky afterwards. Will I go back? You can never say never.

MDW

The highlight of every Memorial Day is the parade. I get candy thrown at me and I only have to watch it for 10 minutes tops. The same groups are in it every year so naturally all my pictures are the same and you probably couldn't tell if I even went this year (I did--don't worry. Those pictures are real.). I think there were more people in the parade than those watching it. It's a nice little tradition in our small neighborhood that I enjoy year after year. And sort of unrelated, it took me all day to figure out what "MDW" stood for (It's "Memorial Day Weekend" FYI.). Kids these days, they are always looking for a short cut. I'm getting old.

What I'm Listening To: Graduation Songs Edition

Welp, just like that, it's over. If you didn't cry enough yesterday, here are a few songs to get you in the mood. And naturally, because I enjoy sad songs (see here and almost all of my Monday music posts), some are my favorites. And some other ones thrown in. And some that will always remind me of this time.

 

On Graduation Advice

"The trick of it, she told herself, is to be courageous and bold and make a difference. Not change the world exactly, just the bit around you. Go out there with your double-first, your passion and your new Smith Corona electric typewriter and work hard at...something. Change lives through art maybe. Write beautifully. Cherish your friends, stay true to your principles, live passionately and fully well. Experience new things. Love and be loved if at all possible. Eat sensibly. Stuff like that." 

- One Day by David Nicholls

4-Peat

Big race tonight and I killed it. As a three-time champion (before tonight), there was a lot of pressure to live up to. I couldn't lose! And luckily I didn't. I've had a weird schedule this week and I wasn't feeling well but it turned out alright. I felt good and I passed people and I was the first woman and I ran my fastest time on that course this year. I'm not sure if I'll be around next year but it was nice winning the past four years (and 2nd place four years ago). And now I can accept prize money without worrying about the NCAA finding out!

My Last Race

Post-PR and post-throw up meal

Well, my last collegiate race ever was last night. I would be lying if I said I didn't feel nervous. I mean, this was my last race and I really wanted it to end on a high note. Running, especially the last two years, was very up and down for me. It even spilled over into relationships, both creating and alienating friends. But I definitely say it was worth it--all those hours in the pool and on the track, waking up early and going to bed early, the injuries and the PR's. I was talking to my coach the other day and he said that he really wanted to preserve my love for running. That was his main priority. And I think it was maintained. There's nothing like running at Valley Green or winning local 5ks or feeling sore after a hard run. And there's especially nothing like finishing my 5k last night, throwing my guts up, but being super happy and talkative and funny. As far as I was from reaching my goal I set last spring, achieving that 10 seconds PR was a great way to end my semester. Even throwing up (my first time ever after a race) was awesome--I ran my guts out.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

“How happy is the blameless vestal’s lot!

The world forgetting, by the world forgot.

Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind!

Each pray’r accepted, and each wish resign’d”

-Alexander Pope

Although I've seen this movie before, it always pops into mind so I thought I'd start my summer movie watching with it. So the premise of the movie is that Clementine (Kate Winslet) decides to erase all her memories of Joel (Jim Carey) from her mind after becoming unhappy in their relationship. After Joel finds this out, he opts for the procedure too. Some other characters stories are interwoven but the movie essentially follows the history of the two and their first meeting after the procedures.

The movie definitely provokes a few questions. First, would people actually do this? As bad as some memories or histories are, would someone erase all the good memories because of the bad? Second, can people change? Joel talks about wishing he could go back and change his mistakes. Now given a second chance, will he change? Can people fundamentally change or will he (and everyone else) make the same mistakes again?

Exploring Campus

So on my penultimate day, I went exploring. There's nothing like pushing off studying to wander up and down all the buildings. The highlight of the afternoon is definitely a secret but all I kept saying was "This is so cool." I know, big vocabulary. Cool things can happen when you know people with master keys. Inspired, I climbed stairs, tried doors, and explored. I finally made it to the greenhouse, after staring at the fourth floor through the little windows in the staircases for four years. Nothing gets me more than looking out the window somewhere and seeing the skyline, no matter how little it is. The surprise just makes me happy at that moment, no matter what.

Final Banquet

Besides the whole Bring-Your-Own-Everything fiasco, my final track banquet was an enjoyable night. I saw my family, I ate pizza, and I had a cute outfit. So naturally it was a success. But I'm not sure if it would have been fun with these two teammates. These two kept me informed about team news and made my Thursday runs enjoyable. Probably between the three of us, we are the most unluckiest runners. I don't know if we all ever ran a season together but training with them was probably the best thing for me the past three years.

On Best Friendship

So many people have heard my theory on best friends. Essentially, you need to ask someone to be your best friend. Because remember, if you assume... But really, there's nothing like feeling that someone has your back and then he or she actually doesn't. Ask and you will receive. Unless the potential best friend says no. Then you are just friends. No harm in trying. I think it's nice knowing that you have a best friend. You can even have many. You just have to ask them first.

Asking also keeps people liable. It's official when you ask. And as sad as this will sound, being picky about who is your best friend allows you from getting hurt. I think a lot of people know about my theory and so they respect it. It's a quality investment when I ask. Friends come and go but best friends are supposed to stay, at least for a while. So there's comfort in knowing that you have at least one or two friends no matter how sucky you are or if you move away. They'll like you for who you are and always try to help you.

So, in my relatively short 22 years, I have had only 2ish best friends (2ish because I'm not 100% sure if it is 2 or 3 so I'm going to pretend it's only 2 for the sake of me avoiding why I'll only be talking about 2. (Is it bad that I definitely only know it is 2? I'm having trouble remembering.)). Anyway, so my theory first came about freshman year, in March, when Cody asked to be my best friend. She was my first ever best friend. Isn't that exciting?? And then I just assumed Kristen was my best friend but I officially asked last year. So two best friends. And they are both short like me. And sometimes weird and sometimes cool.

So meet my two best friends. Hopefully we'll be friends for at least a few more years. Be my roommates in Arizona, please.

What I'm Listening To: "For Good"

So they sang this at mass yesterday. I've honestly never have seen Wicked (Is that surprising? No.). Listen to it if you want to cry or maybe if you'll miss me when I graduate/move to Arizona/etc. Kristen was three seats down from me and I could hear her cry. What gets me is that there are people who I may never see again. And I may not know that was the last time seeing them. You know? It's not sadness but rather an amazement. Cody says the ball is my court to keep in touch but it is a two way street. So I'll be around all week. I'll be going to Arizona the first week of August so that's like 3 months from now. But I guess if you read this, you're a dedicated friend so I have nothing to worry about? Unless I don't know you...

Monthly Walk: May

Who would have known that finals start on Monday? Downtown was hustling and bustling and we partook in the fun. First stop was Walnut Street and Rittenhouse for a street fest. Very crowded but we got a free sample of Peroni--and everyone knows I love my free stuff. Cody was filming everyone and everything for a project so naturally we got separated a few times. Both very hungry, we stopped at Shake Shack for lunch. It was my first time there and my burger was pretty good. The whole process was very overwhelming--too many things I wanted to get! We then headed over towards the Art Museum, walking through the Philly Science Fest in the process. Cody was all about getting her shots of everything. We walked a decent amount and ended with a hike up Lemon Hill--great views of the skyline and Art Museum and Boathouse Row (when the trees don't have leaves). And then I had another "first": my first Uber ride. Very weird experience (for me, at least). I'll be sticking to SEPTA, I think!

Copenhagen

"I’m telling him a story about Skagen. It’s in the north of the country where the two oceans meet. I went there once with my mother. She was sad because her boyfriend left, and I was sad because I had a fight with my best friend. So she brought me to the end of the beach and then she pointed to the right where the Baltic Sea is. It's a very beautiful and very blue sea...the current travels west. Then she pointed to the left to the North Sea...also a very beautiful and blue sea, but the current travels east. Then she pointed to the middle and she said that that is the perfect relationship...you look to the left and you look to the right, and both seas are there. And they can meet in the middle, but they never lose themselves in each other. They are always themselves no matter what."

-Copenhagen (2014)