The next morning we got ourselves up to go eat at the Old West Cafe. Britt and Matt brought me gifts that made me want to cry. Saying goodbye to people in Denton was probably the most difficult thing I had had to do. I hate goodbyes. I would just rather ignore them and pretend like it is a task that can be taken care of another day by somebody else. We gathered at my house to finish packing up my things and to have one last improteu dance party to Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror". I passed out my hugs and tried to avoid making eye contact for fear of falling to pieces. After my 20 min hug/snot fest with Britt I forced myself into the car and geared rhapsody into reverse. Driving downs Millers Creek, I couldn't help but roll down the window and spread "the movement" one last time by throwing my peace sign to everyone standing in the driveway. I swung by my Aunt and Uncle's house to say goodbye. They had really taken care of me while I was in school and I couldn't leave without a goodbye. My Aunt Susan was the only one home so we chatted for a bit, I gave her my gift of left over tequila and margarita mix, and wished them well. I was now on the road. I'd be lying if I said that I didn't cry myself all the way to Austin. I wanted to turn the car around so many times. I looked in the rear view mirror and could see wide open space for miles (a view that I certainly miss).
Home was just the way it had always been. And, of course, I couldn't leave without one more ticket to my name. I was pulled over while on my way to visit my mom at work. That's alright, I thought...I'm fleeing the state anyways!
5 am the next morning came faster than expected. I had spent the night before with my things strung out all over my living room floor. Pondering thoughts that included, "...so how many t-shirts is really too many t-shirts?" The morning was humid and full of anticipation. I had my Josh Abbott album playing on repeat in my head as I boarded my train. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. My dad and I eventually made it safely to New Orleans after 9 hours on the train. I was excited to explore Bourbon St again and was definitely ready for a large margarita or Bahama mama...which came shortly after running through the monsoon to get to bubba gump shrimp! The next morning we boarded the train to New York. Each time we ventured into the dining car I had to explain to other passengers where I was going and why. It made me feel adventurous to tell them. Dad and I filled our days with card games that we had to play until he would finally beat me and running around pretending like we were spies maneuvering though each car looking for criminals.
Fast Forward to Penn Station.
Within the first hour of being in New York I learned a few valuable lessons:
- Jeans, T-shirts and sandals are not appropriate attire. You must be fashionable.
- Be aggressive, B-E aggressive!
- Running red lights is okay.
- Pedestrians are king.
- You must know the actual address of a destination before getting into a cab.
- There are cute fruit stands on the sidewalks and I was craving a banana.
- The traffic was bad...but I think Houston has seen worse.
The next few days that followed were filled with tourist agendas, a lot or confusion and big oooos and ahhhhs as we passed famous landmarks and saw the sights of the center of the world.
...Now someone find be some spicy salsa!!!
