Life's Defining Moments
Strange. Recently I have been experiencing another bout of sleeplessness, and I thought after the flight I'd be ready to hit the big Z's once I checked into the hotel. It is now almost 03:00 in the morning, and I can't sleep.
It all started with my spontaneous self rearing its ugly head just a little over a day ago. On Thursday morning at 01:30, I decided out of the blue to fly to Missouri, my beloved stomping grounds. In a matter of an hour, my flight, rental car and hotel room were reserved and squared away.
With just four hours of sleep, I managed to plow through Thursday that involved running some important errands, namely making myself beautiful again. {More on that later.} After the long Thursday, I rushed home, packed up my bags, and left for Midway, just so I could endure the craptastic weather and delayed flight. The plan was to fly to Kansas City and stay at the brand new Hilton in downtown overnight as I didn't believe I could make the three hour drive to Springfield after arriving late in the evening. The plan also called for relaxing on Thursday evening {which we all know by now is out the window}, followed by lunch with a few friends slash former coworkers on Friday, before driving down to Springfield to spend Christmas with college friends and their kids/babies. {More on that later, too.}
As I drove off the rental car lot at the airport facility, a sense of familiarity overwhelmed me instantly. I knew exactly where to go, where the change in speed limits was, and where the cops hid. For four years I have lived in Kansas City; my life was deeply enriched with the unique experiences I've had. Yet in the midst of all the good memories of the monthly house parties that numbered in the hundreds or the crazy things I have committed while being a young professional freshly blazing my new career, the only thought that came to the forefront was the relatively short but good times I had with a girl.
While driving the 20 miles of highway, my mind kept on drifting into every little moment I shared with this one particular girl. It was really strange, because when I come to think of it, the total amount of time we spent together was relatively short. I would reach over to the passenger side in the car and almost said out loud, "Remember when we..." before realizing the fact that she wasn't in the car with me.
I guess the thought of her actually started earlier, while on the flight to Kansas City. After all, I was taking this former ritualistic flight for the first time after many years of doing so on a weekly basis. The whole evening, I thought to myself about the girl I loved and was willing to give up my singleness. We don't talk with each other as often now, although the brief phone conversation on Wednesday ushered in a sense of familiarity with each other despite the seconds of initial awkwardness.
Don't get me wrong, as I have since moved on. I'm happy with my place in life right now. Okay, maybe mostly happy, but happy nonetheless. The point is not about her, but that despite the many other good memories I've had in Kansas City, the ones that defined my life here was anchored on that single girl. Sometimes you just can't help which are your life's defining moments.
It all started with my spontaneous self rearing its ugly head just a little over a day ago. On Thursday morning at 01:30, I decided out of the blue to fly to Missouri, my beloved stomping grounds. In a matter of an hour, my flight, rental car and hotel room were reserved and squared away.
With just four hours of sleep, I managed to plow through Thursday that involved running some important errands, namely making myself beautiful again. {More on that later.} After the long Thursday, I rushed home, packed up my bags, and left for Midway, just so I could endure the craptastic weather and delayed flight. The plan was to fly to Kansas City and stay at the brand new Hilton in downtown overnight as I didn't believe I could make the three hour drive to Springfield after arriving late in the evening. The plan also called for relaxing on Thursday evening {which we all know by now is out the window}, followed by lunch with a few friends slash former coworkers on Friday, before driving down to Springfield to spend Christmas with college friends and their kids/babies. {More on that later, too.}
As I drove off the rental car lot at the airport facility, a sense of familiarity overwhelmed me instantly. I knew exactly where to go, where the change in speed limits was, and where the cops hid. For four years I have lived in Kansas City; my life was deeply enriched with the unique experiences I've had. Yet in the midst of all the good memories of the monthly house parties that numbered in the hundreds or the crazy things I have committed while being a young professional freshly blazing my new career, the only thought that came to the forefront was the relatively short but good times I had with a girl.
While driving the 20 miles of highway, my mind kept on drifting into every little moment I shared with this one particular girl. It was really strange, because when I come to think of it, the total amount of time we spent together was relatively short. I would reach over to the passenger side in the car and almost said out loud, "Remember when we..." before realizing the fact that she wasn't in the car with me.
I guess the thought of her actually started earlier, while on the flight to Kansas City. After all, I was taking this former ritualistic flight for the first time after many years of doing so on a weekly basis. The whole evening, I thought to myself about the girl I loved and was willing to give up my singleness. We don't talk with each other as often now, although the brief phone conversation on Wednesday ushered in a sense of familiarity with each other despite the seconds of initial awkwardness.
Don't get me wrong, as I have since moved on. I'm happy with my place in life right now. Okay, maybe mostly happy, but happy nonetheless. The point is not about her, but that despite the many other good memories I've had in Kansas City, the ones that defined my life here was anchored on that single girl. Sometimes you just can't help which are your life's defining moments.
posted by StHalcyon at
03:18
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