One of the most important parts about keeping a journal, I think, is in the mundane details. It’s in writing down the little things that happened during the day, like smiling at a stranger on the bus, or appreciating the crispness of the air while walking home. The exciting things are usually remembered, whether you have a journal or not.
That said, I’m going to completely disregard that. I’ve been busy these past two days, and I’m running on about 4 hours of sleep. I’m just glad the hangover’s gone.
It took a significant amount of willpower to even start writing this, and I don’t want to be up later than I have to be.
Even a day later, I’ve forgotten most of yesterday. I’m pretty sure I went to the gym in the morning, but there are no guarantees. I worked for most of the day, no comment. I had to go ham on my close to be done by 8, which was when I was supposed to be off.
I went to chill with my friends. I got a little lost on the way there, but whatever. The extra walk was relaxing. When I got there, they were already playing pool. They finished their game, and I partnered up with someone and challenged the winners. We won, but it was a close game.
Just as we finished, the last of the group came. We had full augii. This hasn’t happened for over a year, holy shit. We played another game of pool, and made plans for the rest of the night.
Basically, the plans were to get drunk. The decision was where. We ended up going to the closest house (that we could drink in). We found chairs, and set up on his back porch.
Honestly, I’ve missed these guys. We get together as smaller groups frequently, but when all of us are together, it’s different. There’s a sense of community and safety that I can’t even come close to describing.
They’re the best friends I could have ever asked for.
We ordered pizza, and accidentally sent it to someone’s address from before they moved. Whoops. We’ll blame chrome autofill for that one.
We spent the whole night catching up, telling stories of what’s been happening in our lives, our failures (and the occasional successes) with girls, and anything else worth mentioning. Between 8 people, there was never a dull moment.
This is my journal, but I’m also posting it on a public forum, so I won’t get too detailed about our conversations. We talked until about 3, by which point there were only 4 of us left.
Finally, it was time to go. Two of us rolled a joint in the basement, and then left. One guy took a cab home, the host went to bed, and I was left with the last augii member. We smoked, and talked.
“This is it, I guess. Time to go home.”
“We’re the last. Of the group. This is the end of the night.”
“It was. Alright. Well, peace.”
We did that high-five/fistbumb thing that’s become so trendy, then turned around and started walking our own directions. I didn’t look back, and I know that he didn’t either. At the time, it felt important.
I came so close to crying, then. Not from sadness, and I can say without any doubt that at that point I was happier than I have ever been in my life. I’ve known about the word “euphoria” for as long as I can remember, but I never understood it until then. I remember walking down the street, almost doubled over, unable to hold the joy I felt inside of me. Honestly, it was a high. The best high. Who needs drugs when you have friends??
Over the past year or so, I’d forgotten how much I love these guys. To suddenly be with everyone again reminded me how lucky I am to have them in my life.
I wish I could end the journal here, because it’s getting late, but the next day was important, and bears remembering. I’ll try to keep it brief.
I jogged home, and got back sometime around 7. I passed out on the couch, after devouring whatever food I could find lying around the kitchen.
I woke up at 11, hungover as shit. Fuck. One of my friends is getting married today. Not one of the ones I was with the night before, but a different crew. I went through my morning routine, doing everything I could to get rid of the hangover. Worked pretty well. I left the house, feeling only slightly poorly, and was waiting at the bus stop when I realized the bus wouldn’t get me there on time. I called my sister, and asked if she could give me a ride. She was heading that direction anyways, and agreed. Bless her.
I got the where google maps told me to go, at the time I was supposed to be there. I couldn’t find the right address, so I put it into my phone again. And it said I had a 20 minute walk before I could get there.
I was late to the wedding.
I got there just as everyone was leaving the marriage commissioner’s house, to celebrate. Feeling like the massive dick I was/am, I gently knocked on the door. A lady opened, and asked who I was. I told her I was there for the wedding, and she pointed me towards everyone else. But she (unintentionally, I think (which makes it almost worse?)) flashed me this look of disgust and contempt. I deserved it.
I went up to the bride and groom, and immediately apologized. I congratulated them on their marriage, and they were excited that I was able to make it.
Which made me feel all the worse.
I fucked up. I fucked up and I missed a friend’s marriage. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to let myself get over that. They were nice about it, but neither of them are very confrontational, and it was their wedding. I’m so sorry. I don’t think either of them are going to hold it as a grudge, but I owe them. I need to think of a way to express that to them.
The rest of the day, however, was amazing. They’re more in love than any couple I’ve seen before, and I expect theirs to be a long-lasting, healthy, and joyful marriage. Just being around them gave me the warm fuzzies inside.
It was a small group, somewhere around 17 people or so. We went to a park, and pictures were taken. After dodging the bouquet and garter (apparently that’s a wedding tradition?), we went to a cafe. They’d booked it for the wedding, and it was such a cute place. We took seats, and talked. I sat with the people I went to Nova Scotia/Indonesia with (how I met the bride & groom, and how they met). We talked about our travels, and lives, pretty similar to yesterday.
I love those people too, but it’s more like the trusting, familial, bond from people who have been through so much together, instead of the pure friendship that I have with augii.
Speeches were made, and while nothing was overly emotional, everything was heartfelt, and it was so nice to experience.
I’m going to gloss over the rest of the day, because I’m tired and it’s late. I got all the important stuff written down.
My parents got back while I was gone, which is kinda fun.
I ate chili for dinner, and nearly fell asleep several times.
Started writing the journal.
