Category Archives: reminiscing

Going away party

July 3, 2012

I am safely in Michigan now but I will get to all that later. I first want to tell you about my going away party.

I wasn’t even sure I was going to have a going away party, or rather, hadn’t even thought of it. A few friends of mine asked if I was going to and that’s the first time I had really considered it. I was so preoccupied with Walker leaving and his going away things that it just didn’t occur to me. I’m glad my friends brought it up. I chose a day and let everyone know and I was blown away with how many of my friends and came to wish me goodbye. I don’t think you realize the impact you’ve made in a place until you’re leaving. I was so touched and felt so blessed to have made so many wonderful friends in my time here.

Despite my best efforts I couldn’t quite express to everyone who came how much it meant to me. I found myself mostly flitting about making sure I as least said hello and goodbye. There was a nice trickle of people coming in and going out. This way I could say hello to everyone and I never got too sad since people were leaving a couple at at time and there were still friends there. This was to be the last night I would see most of my friends so there was potential for me to be really sad but I was mostly just really happy to see everyone. I loved seeing so many people I care about in one place.

My friend made a delicious and super fresh peach pie! Yum! We devoured it through the evening. I sure will miss his cooking. Maybe overnight food care packages will be in order? Maybe?

Eventually there was just a small group of us. We dragged the night on just a little bit longer and then the night was over. Good thing I was too exhausted to get all weepy.

Thank you dear friends for making one of my last days in Austin one of the best. I will miss you all so much!

Perfectly timed ben kweller concert

June 29, 2012

A few weeks ago I said to Walker, I would really like to see Ben Kweller play one more time before I leave Austin. That same day in the car they announced on the radio the line up for Blues on the Green and guess what?! Ben Kweller was to be playing on the 27th of June-3 days before my departure date!! What?! I really couldn’t have planned that better if I tried. I like to think it was set up that way just for me. Did you know this year marks 10 years of my listing and going to Ben Kweller concerts?

But of course being Austin the day of the show was blazing hot so after biking there and then sitting in the sun Katie and I were sticky!! Can you see the sweat about to drip in my eye? Once the sun went down it was a bit better though. The show was so much fun. It was a bit weird looking at Ben with greenish blue hair (get it blues on the green) but that was only distracting for the first few songs. Then we just sang along and danced and had the best time. Until we had to bike home that is (it’s all uphill and I got a flat about a mile from home but we played in some sprinklers so it wasn’t all bad).

Swimming in barton springs

June 28, 2012

As my days in Austin are dwindling to an end I am determined to spend my time doing high quality activities and having quality time with friends. So far I have been pretty successful. The other day my friend picked me up from work and we headed over to Barton Springs which, as you may know, is a pretty quintessential Austin landmark. It was good timing too as it was the hottest day we’ve had yet. I figured the place would be crawling with people but I was pleasantly surprised that it was not.

I’ve been to Barton Springs a few times over the years but one last trip was essential. We posted up on the hill and took the most refreshing dip in the water. The contrast nearly takes your breath away as the water is always 68 degrees F and it was about 107 degrees F outside. We swam around a bit until we were cooled then dried off in the sun on our towels and did it all over again. The whole experience was made even better by the musicians behind us playing what reminded me of the soundtrack to a French film. Lovely.

For my final days in Austin I need to focus on just enjoying myself. Often times when I’m leaving a place I’ve been for a while I find myself running around like a crazy person trying to do so many things. I think in a way it’s a distraction for me to focus on all of my unnecessary to do’s but I’d like to not do that this time.  For instance I probably don’t need to run all over town visiting all the places that I have memories of. I probably don’t need to buy cheese cloth and collect figs for a recipe I want to try once I’m in Michigan. I’m even allowing myself to not make jewelry for a few days so I can really be present with my friends and myself. So here is to my last few high quality days in Austin.