This past weekend, Thursday to Sunday, I trekked out to
California, PA to visit my girl, some friends and attend an SCA event called
Agincourt. The trip isn’t too difficult,
just boring. Three hundred miles of
Pennsylvania…and it all looks the same.
Granted it becomes less populated and hillier as you head west, but once
you’ve seen the PA Turnpike four times, you’ve seen it all.
Instead of mini-orchids, I procured a pot of Calla
Lillies for my
girlfriend, which if I remember right are one of her favorites. (Glad I did,
watched all the unsold ones get tossed at work today =( )
She was en route to class when I first
arrived however, and rather than put out a signal flare that I was on campus,
decided to make my way to the library and see if fencing club was still in its
meeting.
I couldn’t find them in the
usually spots (which they weren’t in anyway) and so made my way to fourth
floor.
As I alighted from the elevation
converter, I received a text from one
Shane Pilgrim.
He had just discovered my Facebook status
about being on my way, and wanted to know when I would arrive.
For those of you wishing to stalk Mr. Pilgrim,
he works on said fourth floor, mere yards from where I was standing at the
time.
I walked into the office where he
keeps watch, and with luck, found him facing away from the door (not a very good guard).
Rather than answering via text, I silently approached
his desk, and said: “I already have.”
The
response was most satisfying; a startled jump, a “holy shit man,” and of
course, that friendly hug straight guys do.
After chatting a bit I made sure he’d go play Magic and drink with the
gang later and continued my search for people I know.
I was on my way to the student center when I received
another text, this time from my girlfriend’s
roommate (Who happens to be my
most recent ex & is dating my best friend from grade school).
She let me into the room and ran off to
class.
I layed on my girl’s bed thinking
I might catch some sleep.
WRONG.
I was visited by one of my friends who
ironically lives right above my girlfriend.
We talked about how the atmosphere of the college had changed and where
life was going etc.
I’m actually kinda
proud of this girl.
When she first came
to school, she was very…naïve? And sheltered?
I remember her sitting on a friend’s couch with her brand new Dell
laptop, and asking us if she had a Mac or a PC.
Her parents, while very nice, are devoutly Christian, and the first few
years of college this was very apparent in my friend too.
But while she visited with me she explained
how she loves home, but really doesn’t ever want to live there again, that
college had been too liberating.
I also
know she’s become much more independent since her freshman year.
After a little bit she went back to her room to do homework
(I don’t miss that) and my girlfriend’s roommate returned.
Shortly afterward we went to sneak a
Viking
into the building and then sat about waiting for my girl to get out of
class.
Knowing she was close, we decided
to hide all trace of me in her room except for me, which was placed behind the
door.
She must be more aware of her
surroundings than Mr. Pilgrim, she was still surprised but turned to me as I
moved from behind the door.
I greeted
her with a bone-crushing hug.
We proceeded to chill until Silva Vulcani’s fencing practice, but I’ve reached that limit of
acceptable blog length and must cut it off here. More to come I promise, as
soon as I have time and motivation.
