This last weekend of September, I was in the Bay Area. Before I get to the best part of the weekend and the main reason I was up north in the next post, there are a few side comments.
I have a habit of showing up in Berkeley without telling people until immediately before I leave or calling them up when I am already in the city. Even more fun I sneak up on people and make casual comments standing right next to them. For example I asked Kim about the English muffin she was toasting at the Residence Inn on Sunday morning.
Below are the responses of people when I told them I was coming to the Bay Area and wanted to see them. The names have been removed.
Google chat conservation one:
My Friend: Howdy Christopher!
Surprise:
I will be in the Southern California area this weekend.
However, I do not know what I will be doing, but my parents will both be off work.
me: Surprise:
I will be in Northern California this weekend. :(
Google chat conservation two:
me: If you have time on Friday or Saturday, running into you would be nice :)
My other Friend: i work all day friday and i'm babysitting on saturday :(
Phone call person one:
I am in Big Sur this weekend with my girlfriend celebrating our anniversary. (Congratulations on five years!)
Phone call person two:
I just got off a plane in Orange County where I will be spending the weekend.
Phone call person three:
I am at home taking care of my Mom and Sister who have the swine flu. I think I am coming down with a flu as well.
Sean, my friend from high school who attends Boalt:
I left a voicemail message, several calls placed, and spend time outside the apartment where he lives.
That is half a dozen people.
On a more positive note, I saw a few people on Saturday. Being at Kim's (not to be confused with the aforementioned Kim) watching the football game with spirited people was fun, even if the game was sad and disappointing. I bought a couple of books at Moe's. I went to the 9:30 on Sunday morning and Fr. Al recognized me. Then I went to Cafe Durant with Josh and Derek.
Going back to Berkeley always drudges up feelings. I go to places I spent countless hours at and traverse the streets I crossed hundreds of times. It seems I used to know someone who lived in an apartment on every block. Everywhere are memories of events, people, and a life that is far removed from me. There are the windows of Unit Two, the entrance to Crossroads and The Den, and the benches of Unit Three. The water balloon fight in the courtyard, walking around during long phone calls, and the joyous times visiting Spens-Black freshman and sophomore years.
To get from home to Berkeley via San Ramon involved the 405 to the 101 to the 680 to the 24 to the 13. The complete trip took 1050.5 miles with the drive back taking 8.5 hours including a stop at Taco Bell in San Luis Obispo. I collected Derek from Carpinteria.
