June 7th

Today was wonderful, it started out slow and lethargic... woke up at 10:30 with a foggy brain and an urge for a surge of coffee. After two cups, I went over to Sewickely for one last job search at the Sewickely Cafe. I was surprised to see Julia and Matty from Avonworth. Matty came over and asked about Laura who I presume has been distancing the lovestruck fool. Then I met my mom at the yarn shop where she was picking out turquoise and red yarn for a blanket she's going to crochet for me. She just finished one for Linda, he best friend, and it is beautiful - all the time and effort collectively makes the blanket radiate love.

This excursion was followed by a quick drop by the library, then some lunch with the family.

I decided to go out and be social around 5 and went to my friend Alex's graduation party. I was a little nervous since I haven't seen many people from Avonworth since I graduated... In face, I actually try to avoid some. However, it was fine and I'm glad I stopped by. Funny Alex was already tipsy when I got there. As I left, he tried to give me a hug from a pick-up truck and almost fell over.

Alex putting his shirt on after being pushed into the water by his older brother Chris.


Immediately after the graduation party I ran back to my house and grabbed Lisa's graduation present (a cute little bear and a card). With so many mistakes and blunders yesterday I missed her graduation by a hair (I got there when the lights in the field were on, but not many people were still there).

I met Lisa in the Hyatt lobby in Cranberry where she came up behind me, surprising me with her ADORABLE little brother Hunter. The first thing I said was, "whoa! so you have a baby now?" Then went up to meet the other side of her family. For the past few years I've only been around her mom, Heather, and Lucas (and occasionally the grandparents on her mom's side), but I've never met her Cuban half. Her father is tall and wore a golf shirt that said "Life is Good" and her step mom Jill is lean and pretty with long blond hair with a hint of a tomboyish nature. Her abuela (grandmother) was friendly and rotund and kissed me on the cheek the moment I met her.



We all played with Hunter and were entrance by the funny things he continued to do. At one point Lucas was laying on the ground and Hunter body slammed him once, then got onto his back as if he was riding a bull. He bounced up and down while Lucas made funny "AH" noises to the receptive uproar from the adults.



Then Lisa drove us to Chili's in this rented SUV. They insisted that I sit shotgun and I felt honored to be upfront. At Chili's Lisa and i shared margarita chicken and lemon zest shrimp with steamed veggies and mashed potatoes. Once we received our meal with an extra plate for me, Lisa's abuela made a fuss about me. She said (in Spanish, so I got a translation from Lisa's dad) that I was making a hungry face and that it wasn't enough food for me. I tried my best to communicate I was fine and had eaten a late lunch, and after a bit of time she accepted it. Poor baby Hunter got ornery and tired throughout the dinner and ended up crying sporadically and ate part of a cardboard coaster.

Back at the Hyatt, Doug met us with his mom's new Volkswagen. He wanted to show Lisa and probably show it off to Lisa's dad (points). I don't blame him though, it is a sweet car. It's hard roof worked like a transformer and folded back in an intricate way to reveal a convertible. This model is the only car to have a moon roof in a hard roof. He drove Lisa, Luke and I around the block to demonstrate the smooth ride. I love the new car smell. Ever since Margie, a real estate agent, drove my family around in her new car when I was 9, I've been a sucker for that smell.



Once we were back in the room, Hunter continued to bumble around with a rickety posture, ready to fall at the slightest imbalance. He's comparable to an old man with his drunken walking and his baby teeth just coming in. Doug and Lisa looked like naturals holding Hunter affectionately. Hunter kept running with a large sofa pillow, then he'd plop it down and fall on top of it in a tired resignation. No more than 3 seconds and he was back on his little feet again, dancing about erratically.

Watching Jill care for her baby was very sweet. She was continually on her feet running after her energetic offspring. I reached the conclusion, that that kind of work is some of the most meaningful work. Caring for another human being as a mother is the most selfless and endearing thing. I definitely want to adopt or have my own children, but not until my mid-30s. Now is the time for independence from relationships and an exploration of the world. Not to mention I need to develop more skills so as to be successful or at least useful later on.

I felt so comfortable sitting with her family that I lost track of time. By the time I looked at my phone to catch the time, it was already 11:30. I made my round of goodbyes and can't wait to go up with Lisa to visit them in the Key West mid-July.

In the car I had an animated chat with Kyle, and now I think I'm going to read and sleeeeep.