Chance meetings

Today was a day highlighted by quite the chance meeting. After an admittedly horrible day at work (everything broke down or just plain didnt go right), I was relieved to partake on the journey out towards my car all the way down by Burns Park Elementary. I had gotten no more than 100 feet out the door when I ran into my old friend Christine Jacob. She and I go way way back, as she was the only member of my first semester engineering group project that I ever liked or still talk to at all. Through the years we actually managed to be group members in 3 other classes, and my relationship with Christine has meant a lot to me, but apparently not enough to ever call her as I tend to loose touch with people (as she brings up time and time again). She was on her way to dinner, so I joined her at Pizza House to catch up, as it had been about 3 months since I saw her last.

The relationship between Christine and I is very unique indeed, as we have very very different ideas of what's scandalous and morally inept. Actually, if you can believe this, I am likely her most controversial friend, and I don't really think I'm really all that bad. Christine is very religious, and she's one of those girls who you're actually ashamed to tell stuff about your life, as you don't want her to judge you for something that you wouldn't normally feel so guilty about. I owe a lot to Christine though, because despite the differences she has always been supportive and she has a way of keeping me in my place. She's also the one who led me to coin the phrase "turn the cuss off," as she refuses to allow me to cuss freely in front of her, and I have learned to adopt this policy in front of children, faculty, and clergy. Every time I see Christine I tell her I'll do a better job keeping in touch, and now that I have no school work to deal with when not working I think I may do a better job.

I wouldn't normally write a blog about having dinner with an old friend, except this particular time got me to start thinking about how I spent my time at college. If there is at least one thing that I can be proud of, it would have to be the diversity of friends that I have collected during my time in AA. As I have evolved, I have actually become more easily labeled despite being more open than ever to new things. I suppose the clothes that I think look good or the way that I act around people makes it easy for some to assume things about me, but choosing friends on such trivial concepts is not for me. I used to be obsessed with pleasing everybody, but now I realize that it's not important to do so, as many of the people that do dislike you just never gave you a chance (note: I am sure there are people that hate me more after having gotten to know me, but that's ok).

I strongly believe that the greatest knowledge attainable is that of people and what makes them unique. Without this knowledge, all other pursuits end without happiness. I hope this year is a time to learn something new about everybody I know and everybody I am about to meet.