What a Saturday.

A lot happened in one day.  Good times and troubling times, but all positive memories that I’ll never forget.  Saturday was a day of many “firsts.”  First time venturing to Philly by ourselves, finding a random place we’ve never been before in an environment we’ve never lived in… it was hectic!  And first time using the subways….and getting stuck!!!

I have to say that it’s the first time I ever experienced a feeling of “hopelessness.”  Missing our last train back home and staring at the schedule screen that read “subway schedule will be back online next morning” … while also being stuck in the train station during midnight with a service attendant who wouldn’t bother helping out… As I sat on the cold benches, I honestly felt that I wouldn’t be able to get home for the first time in my life. 

Which made me realize a lot of things.  I live such easy life.  Food is given, shelter is always there, and the necessities of survival are readily at hand.  A small moment of being “stuck” gave me such anxiety while there are people out there sleeping in the streets.  Dam.

So that fact gave me some comfort.  In the back of my mind, I still felt safe.  As strange as it may sound, it wasn’t difficult to put a smile on my face.  Or pull out some jokes to fill the grave environment with some laughter.  Maybe it’s because the fact that the society I live in is so “forgiving.”  Though we were stuck, we’ll ALWAYS have one method of getting home.  Calling our parents and having them haul their ass to Philly and pick us up by car.  Haha!

But it’s also the fact that you’re with people you know.  People you trust, people that’ll help you, or people that can just pull a joke out even in a difficult situation. 

Though we were in a pretty bad situation, I didn’t feel a wince of nervousness.  I knew we’ll get home soon enough.  And being with friends, the moment almost became fun.

On Saturday, I was reminded of the power of being with friends.  We suffer together, but we grow together.  We experience together, we learn together.  We laugh together, we create memories together.

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As college approaches, I feel like I’m slowly being fed small portions of reality.  To the crazy people in the city to the difficult situations where we have to do things on our own, I’m slowly being accustomed to do things on my own.

And of course this situation is dynamically “less serious.”  There will be situations in the future where I’ll SERIOUSLY be screwed … but at least I know now to brace for impact, right?

After a long night of dancing and finding our way back home, I can say that it was a pretty successful weekend.