Yesterday was exciting. And sometimes the best part about crazy days are that they usually happen when you least expect them to. If you’ll take a moment to read this, I would love to tell you my story.
Yesterday was my first day as a Junior in college at the University of Maryland–Shady Grove Campus. Time to celebrate with a big mug of my favorite espresso Starbucks coffee, I thought. After a wonderful time with the Lord, I proceeded to do e-mail, make my lunch, and pack up my handy-dandy white North Face backpack, which I just so happen to love. By the time I was ready to leave, I was running a few minutes late. “Hmm…” I thought…”I think I’ll go the back way.” As I was driving, I began to feel extremely faint, because my coffee intake had been more than my body was used to. At the stoplight, I even had to put my head on the steering wheel b/c everything started to go fuzzy. (Oh Lord, help me! But I recovered).
Now, to continue the story…The back way to campus turned out to be the long way, but it was worth it because I saw this very humorous sight. This random guy, who was probably 6′ 5″ and weighed close to 300 lbs, was stomping along the side of the road. He had this huge white-blonde beard and long, straight blonde hair. (I named him Gandolas–a cross between Gandolf and Legolas–from Lord of the Rings). I laughed out loud at him. Good thing my windows were rolled up.
So, 3 minutes late to my first class, even though I power-walked from my car all the way upstairs and into a seat. Not good when you are trying to make a respectable impression on your teacher and classmates. But it turned out to not be so bad, cause 3 more people strolled in after me a few minutes later. “Haha—you were later than I was” (to be read in a sing-songy, taunting voice).
Then, I had my first break. Due to the amount of coffee I had drunk, I needed to use the restroom. Now, if you get to this part of the story and think it’s gross that I am going into bathroom-humour, please excuse me. Our family is pretty open about this kind of stuff. I walked in, and was the only one in the bathroom. When the time came for me to flush the toilet, I slowly watched in horror as the water began to rise, but not go down. Then, it overflowed. I hadn’t noticed that whoever used the toilet before me had clogged it up and not flushed it. Bad stall selection, for sure. Good thing nobody else was in there, right? I had to then go to the front desk and subtly tell them that “umm, just thought I’d let you know…there is a toilet overflowing in the bathroom.” How embarressing.
Next came my second class, which lasted 3 hours right smack in the middle of lunch-time. They didn’t give us time to eat anything, so I got starved, got hypoglycemic and then shaky and irritable. By the time I got to my car, I was scarfing down my chicken, salad, and fruit at a very fast rate, and I think people walking by thought I was a poor, starving child in a ’91 Volvo station-wagon who hadn’t eaten a normal meal in 3 days.
And last but not least, the end of the day brought an errand to Nordstrom Rack on Shady Grove road. After returning a pair of flip-flops, I went to my car to leave. While calling a friend about a particular matter, I put my key into the ignition. As I attempted to turn over the engine, it choked and would not start. Second time, same thing. “Are you kidding me?” I thought. My friend kindly started praying. At the end of the prayer, I looked down and promptly burst out laughing. The car wasn’t in park. I had my foot on the break, and the gear was in D for drive. I simply had done the second and third step before the first step. I’m such an idiot.
On days like these, all I can do is laugh and thank God for the wonderful opportunities He gives me to bless His name and trust in Him with all my heart. Regardless of what happened, how can I complain? I had my awesome, white North Face backpack on my shoulders, a delicious green apple like all my other “First-Day-of School” snacks, a cool new waterbottle, and a wonderful friend of 8 years named Elise Mays, with whom I have taken classes since 7th grade and is also doing the COMM major with me. Yep. It was a great day.
oh em, what a memory!