My Easter consisted of dyed eggs, crackers from 2007, an intoxicated bout of "hanger," a Chihuahua [which I always need the help of Dictionary.com to spell], the cutest Easter basket, Skip-Bo, and lamb.
Because I don't have any local family one of my best friends Katie invited me to spend Easter with her here in St. Louis, her husband, and her in-laws. I love all of those people, so I agreed. Then I remembered that I volunteer at the WRC on Sunday mornings so I'd have to go to that first, in case a bunch of people took off for Easter. Then I would wander my way north to her in-laws' house [which is right next to Katie's house].
Well, the WRC actually had a handful of volunteers so after taking care of all the box turtles and the adult geese, I felt that it would be okay if I took off. [I'd forgotten to wear deodorant anyway and the hot and humid turtle room had set off my BO - so it was for the best, even in a place that can smell of goose poo, which I probably had on my shoes.] So I got out of there around 11:30 or so, and I didn't think I'd get out before 2pm when I didn't realize volunteers would be aplenty. [Ok, not aplenty, but more than the previous week when I cleaned enclosures of and fed EVERY SINGLE ANIMAL except the baby squirrels, even the three geese with three geese's worth of poo.] I ran home to shower and get ready. Then I finished up an X-Files episode I'd started the night before. Then I took off for the Endorfs' house.
It was pouring rain, which meant nothing except that I had to maneuver my way around very slow St. Louisans to maintain the speed limit.
I got to their street and rang Katie and Paul's doorbell and knocked. When there was no answer I Katie and Paul weren't over there so none of us knew where they actually were. I'd texted and called Katie a few times to let her know I was on my way and such and hadn't received any responses. Right as I walked into Dave and Kathy's Katie called me and said that she and Paul and had been taking a nap and that they had hardly heard me knocking. While I was on the phone I took part in the most awkward hug known to mankind. Kathy, who is shorter than me, hugged me, but I went in on the side I was holdin gthe phone and my head went the wrong way so I had to kind of look up and it was awkward...but not awkward. It probably just looked crazy awkward.
So I stayed with Kathy and Dave, waiting for Katie and Paul to make their way over. I helped stir some chocolate pudding and then I helped Kathy dye some eggs she drew on. I was in the middle of the egg process when Katie and Paul finally showed up.
While we waited for the food to get done we played some Skip-Bo. I am not a competitive person (MOST of the time, unless it's something I think I'm good at) AND I was hungry...so I was a bit crabby. Paul and Dave are crazy competitive and loud and obnoxious in games and I just tuned them out...which meant I just zoned during the game unless it was my turn. I was trying to control my hanger, while battling tipsiness from a couple of beers. After one game of Skip-Bo, during which Kathy had prepped the lamb leg and put it in the oven, Katie and I ran over to her house so she could change her contacts and we could wolf down a snack.
When we got back all five of us played another round of Skip-Bo and Kathy busted out some cheese and crackers. While I was eating these crackers I thought they tasted funny...but I was so hungry that I just covered them up with cheese and kept eating, as did everyone else. After the game (I won) and most of the crackers were gone, Kathy asked about how they tasted, if we thought they tasted funny. We all agreed they did taste weird and Dave checked the box: the date said 2007. Yum. Then I found some leftover chips in my sweater pocked from when Katie and I stuffed our faces at her house.
While we were playing games and eating Dave had his "playlist" going on the stereo and I commented on its awesomeness probably a million times. It was that good. I was in love with almost EVERY song! My favorite that came on was Mambo #5! No one plays that song..EVER! It's my all time favorite one hit wonder. 7th grade, baby!!
After our dinner of lamb, potatoes and broccoli salad, we went for a walk in the beautiful park right across the street. We walked the dogs through puddles. The Chihuahua, Luna, would sprint ahead, with her tiny little legs straight out. It was hilarious to watch. At one point the dogs chased a poor squirrel up a tree, where it proceeded to jump to an adjacent tree and the fling itelf off the tree as far as it could, landing with a THUMP on the ground. It hauled its butt across the trail and climbed another unreachable tree. All the while everyone is laughing at the poor squirrel's expense. Jerks. [This is the family that kills squirrels in the hundreds every year because they chew up the outdoor furniture. Squirrel massacres.]
Then we opened our Easter baskets. I got an AWESOME bucket from Katie [a partial going-away gift] and a sweet scarf from Kathy [from Charming Charlie, the best accessory store on the planet]. Katie gave me this little bird necklace that I had been eyeing every time she made me walk through a department store.
Overall, wonderful experience. My last few Easters have been so pleasant. With family in Texas last year, with my best friend's family not far from our college my senior year...and beyond that I lost track. So many years, so many places. So many friends. This year I appreciate the fact that the Endorfs took me in and treated me just like family. It was perfect! [Except for one minor hangry episode.]
I'm not one of those people who has to go "home" to family for every holiday. I don't have to go to them for most holidays. I grew up spending holidays with my immediate family and my parents' best friend from college (who is also my Godfather) and his wife. They spent most holidays with us, from Thanksgiving to Christmas to Easter, and most birthdays. So I expected to be able to spend holidays with local friends...and I have found out that's not how it works in this real world. Many people travel back to their families or have their families visit them. My family and I can't always afford that. So I have spent the last couple of Christmases alone (with a friend either a bit on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day - so not 100% alone).
I could drone on and on about where I spent the holidays for the last 5-6 years, but that's not interesting. Let's just say they've been spent all over the country with a variety of college friends and family members. Easters, Thanksgivings, Christmases, and spring breaks. From California to Florida, Minnesota to Texas, and everywhere in between. I'm like a gypsy.
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