I sit here in North Carolina after one of the most interesting weeks of my life. As you read this I should be in my bed in Bethlehem, PA, but rather I am at my grandmother’s house in quiet Concord, NC. My spring break has been one filled with fun and enjoyment but the events that took place around my return really do a lot to taint the great memories I have of Florida. My plane was grounded on it’s way back because of weather in the northeast and I now sit here trying to find a flight home so I can get back to school by Monday. Every hotel in charlotte was filled and every plane going north is booked to capacity. I feel like a mess and am overwhelmed. My father is angry because hes been on the phone with the airlines all night. It is nice to see my grandmother and aunt but it was not the intention to make a random pit stop here.
I could blog my trip day by day with everything I did, but I never have really fell into that style and I don’t think it’s much fun to read. I think I would rather read a blog that tries to share something and convey lessons learned. So that’s what I’m going to try to do. I think a good writer focuses more on feelings rather than just raw facts. I have never been one to like blatant run throughs of things without any input from the person who wrote it. Although I might fall into the event a to b to c style, hopefully this will serve to do more than just document my vacation.
My spring break began as I walked out my house in Bethlehem and down the driveway. I packed the car with my sister who was returning to school. My father, my mom, my sister, and I took the 2 hour drive to Philadelphia where my sister attends university. My parents dropped me at the airport and the journey began.
packing
me in the car
I was traveling to Miami for spring break to see one of my best friends in the whole world. His name is Alex Strassman and he plays footbag but does not post much here, and for the most part I don’t blame him. He is a good freestyler and an even better friend. I feel that kind of connection with him that I can only liken to that which brothers share, even though I don’t have a brother myself.
I took the plane ride down to Miami without a hitch. I talked to some girls from Penn State who were also on the flight, but they were all about partying in Miami and getting crazy. They told me they were in a sorority and although I don’t like to stereotype PSU sorority girls are pretty much a standard mold. I politely strayed away from them and stood in line as the different loading zones were called. I got on, did the whole sit down next to a stranger thing, and buckled in for a 3 hour flight.
the plane
The first thing that hit me when I walked off the plane was that my sweatshirt and blue jeans were not the attire for this vacation haven. I sweated as I walked out to baggage claim and then onto the busy street filled with cabs and shuttles. A phone call later I was sitting next to alex in the car. It was the first time I had seen him in over 6 months, which is quite a long time. It is weird though because everytime we get together we pick up where we left off. I miss him of course, but I seem to deal with the lack of alex quite well during my normal life.
alex driving away from the airport
We pulled away from the airport and caught up a little bit as we went for a late dinner. It was 9 oclock at night and the Florida humidity was making my jeans stick to my skin.
driving down a street
His air conditioned dorm room was a nice change of environment. I unpacked my things and breathed for the first time in a few hours.
That night I met a guy who I consider one of my good friends in freestyle now. His name is Dan Klowkow and he lives in Miami. He is a super nice guy who hung out with us all week and freestyled. He is a great shredder and a down to earth chill guy. Here are my favorite pictures of dan.
We freestyled that night and it felt good to show alex my new tricks and combos. We all played ok but knew that night was just practice for the next day. Dan left and me and alex hit the sack, eager for our Floridian visitors who would be arriving the next morning.
The first day instilled a few things in me:
The first was that I am really good at traveling and keeping cool. Perhaps it is not hard and I’m pumping myself up but a man commented on how quick and efficient I was with the whole security process. I also felt really comfortable waiting for my gate, checking in with the automated system, etc etc. I feel like a lot of people make flying stressful but I really feel pretty chill when I do it. It is a good thing footbag has given me.
The second was how strong of a friendship Alex and I have. It really means a lot that we fly to each other’s places to see each other and its awesome he would give up his spring break to host me and show me Miami. We are different people in a lot of ways but I think we learn from each other and our similarities bond us on a weird level.
The third was how cool it was to meet Dan and how we were instantly buds. It is awesome that almost any freestyle can be my friend and I really like how Dan isn’t all about the scene and hype and shit. He is a true freestyler and so is Alex. They don’t get caught up in who hits what and playing with them made me feel like I was just another kicker. No one was asking me to hit stuff or telling me about Vasek’s tricks or anything. It was just nice and relaxing and I think that made my play better.
It’s late now and I think I finally might have a flight out of this place tomorrow. Wish me luck.
More Miami later.
David
I always enjoy playing with him.
