Old Books and New Clothes

I saw my friends this past weekend, and loved every minute of it.

It's strange to see people outside of college, but doubly so to see them on the other side of graduation. Everyone seems to have this same aura of "what the hell am I doing? What the hell are they doing? Maybe I should be doing what they're doing?" insecurity that permeates every conversation about getting out from under our parents' thumbs and finding "grown-up" jobs and coping with not being in a fishbowl of parties and schoolwork. At the same time, it's comforting to know that we're not all alone in this blind scrambling around for some kind of place to exist in.

This weekend was everything I had wanted it to be and more. Dan showed up Thursday night and spent all of Thursday helping me make the 30-something cupcakes I had to make for my brother's graduation party. I settled on Vegan Green Tea Cupcakes for all his crazy vegan friends and Root Beer Cupcakes for him. I didn't snag any pictures because my camera broke, but they were really cute looking. Could have been a little more flavorful but I'm pretty sure that's my own fault - the root beer needed to be reduced and I hadn't ever done that before. Also I think I mis-measured the matcha out of sheer laziness. Next time!

Anyway my other friends showed up that night and we ended up back at the brewery. I killed them all at trivia pursuit (God grants us one gift, and my gift is useless knowledge) while munching on chili-lime fries and a Brown Ale Float. Yeah, let's stop and let that sink in. A Beer Float. With Beer. Needless to say I drank the whole thing.

 Silly Drunk Selfie

 What led to the SDS

What was in what led to the SDS.

A movie night and 50 pizza rolls later, we woke up and rolled into town to have brunch at the Bistro. It was a long, long wait, but as always, worth it in the end. I ended up getting the "Bistro Rancheros" and a Chai Cooler - both of which were delicious. I may or may not have splurged on a giant chocolate chip pancake as well. Can't even feel guilty. 

NO GUILT, JUST CALORIES.

My brother's party was in two hours, so we decided to swing by this barn in my town on the way home. I don't really know much about the place - I don't think it has a name, I'm pretty sure it's just a barn - other than the fact that the couple that owns it REALLY love Star Trek and other old things. It's literally just chock full of assorted odds and ends from old rotary phones to 90s computer games to authentic Russian Navy hats.

I'd only been there once before, and ended up getting a stein that I'd love to drink out of but may or may not be made of lead. So i was determined to get something better this time around, and I think I succeeded.

I found a book from 1907 that I only picked up to look at the 8 volumes of Shakespeare they were selling for 25$. I opened it on a whim, and ended up reading the introduction.

Then I promptly bought it.

I haven't read the book proper, but the introduction resonated:

"Three months have gone by since this little child of my heart went out into the world, a strayling in the scanty dress of a booklet. In that time many thousands have looked kindly on the little wanderer and welcomed it into their homes. Letters from everywhere have come in, saying in effect: "It came to my door yesterday, and its voice has been sweet to me, and I am glad to have it stay with me." For all this I am most thankful. But it is hard to realize that the small circle of those who loved this story a few months ago has grown now to a multitude.

Surely none of us ought to be surprised that our story has itself grown under all this kindness, after the manner of children. Indeed, as we are sending it forth newly clothed, I find that it is larger by half than when I last prepared it for journeying.
I am set to wondering whether it will not grow quite away from me and have a life of its own. Healthy children do that very thing usually, and wise parents are willing to have it so.

But I cannot cease to remember that this story is out of my own life. It lay in my heart unborn for long. It came forth in a time of shock and pain. There is one who knows why is face is unmarred and bright with the gladness of trust. I think God has let it speak to so many hearts for this reason.

Go then, little story; be bearer of thy message of cheer and glad restfulness. I cannot follow thee into lives that need to hear thy voice; but speak thou to them, and I shall be content.

Yet I know, friends of mine, that as you look up somewhere in the world from these pages, you will want to ask me a question. It has been asked and answered many times already. Because I know some you are in sick-rooms, some are lonely and some companioned by grief, some are poor and some for the time are misunderstood, some are discouraged and some feel themselves little loved, some are young and cannot find their way, and some are old an wayworn, - because I know all of you have need of the Shepherd's watch, I want to answer your questions. Yes, we did indeed have such a  guest, a man whose home was among the Syrian shepherds, a man who well knew the life which rightly interprets the Shepherd Psalm.

I give my word that this story's message about the Psalm's meaning is straight from David's land. We had such a guest and he told us these things out of the life of his people, as we sat together one night over fragrant cups of tea."

I bought the book not because of the story, but because of this introduction. I bought this book because to me, it shows that even a century ago, stories still got away from us and turned into these great big things that helped people in ways we couldn't even imagine.

Writers are writers are writers, and I've never been more glad to be one.

PS: I got my first OASAP order today! I was shocked/surprised/ecstatic to have it thrown at my head while I was working out. No pics of the dress or the leggings I bought yet, but the bracelets are beautiful - well worth the money! 

PPS: I realized this morning before work that I hadn't seen or spoken to Lolly lately. She's my favorite, so I ran to her house to find her shivering and sad in her kitchen. My heart broke! I ran to the store and bought her some medicine, and rushed back to give it to her. She claims she's getting better because of me, but it's been all day and nothing's changed.

I know she can't die or anything, but I'm still so sad to see her like this! The internet says she'll be like this for a few more days, so I guess I'll just keep buying her medicine when it restocks. Poor BB.