I haven’t had Waffle House in years, so now that I have a car I’ve been three times in as many weeks. It’s not fancy food. Some people would laugh at it, but it’s always meant comfort to me. I had the Cheese-n-Eggs breakfast, which comes with grits, raisin toast and apple butter. I also got some hash browns to go, let’s not get stupid.
The waitress remembered me and it was nice to be noticed. I don’t dress up when I go to Waffle House so I’m as unmemorable as can possibly be. I’m just there to eat.
People did notice when grits went down the wrong pipe and I lost my mind coughing. I am very lucky I didn’t vomit, my chest was shaking so hard. I was embarrassed enough as is, because the choking made me turn red and tears come down my cheeks at an alarming rate. Someone asked me if I was going to live. In that moment, I wasn’t sure.
It would also be embarrassing to be taken down by grits, but I can’t think of a better way for a Southerner to go……
I stopped by Wawa for ice cream and ended up with the world’s most decadent caramel parfait. I also got something to drink for the drive home- a cherry Coke Zero.
I listened to podcasts the entire way. Pod Save America, Good Hang with Amy Poehler, Morbid, Crime Junkies…… I just did a mishmash because I’d get distracted and couldn’t remember what the people in the podcast were talking about. Focusing on the road so hard does that to me. I go deaf.
Then, when I’m not navigating in traffic I’m flipping through what seems cool.
I have listened to very little music because it tends to make me cry while I’m driving. It’s lovely when I do, because I need to get in touch with my emotions. I’m just not always in the mood to be that vulnerable, even when I’m alone.
I know the places in my mind that I go when I get in touch with my feelings, Therefore, I’m trying to avoid me at the moment.
I also think I’ve said all I can say about most situations in my life because I’m leaving on the 25th for Houston. That means a lot of getting things done while trying not to focus on all the excitement later. I don’t want to get too flustered, I just want to keep my head down.
I think that means listening to podcasts on my headphones rather than in the car. I need to do things like organize the kitchen, coupled with finding whatever it is that died in the fridge.
I have lots of Clorox wipes, and I know I’m going to need them.
I still haven’t heard anything from my apartment complex about when my new apartment will be ready. No news is good news, I suppose, but I’m still going to stop by the office and make sure I haven’t been forgotten. I know everything is in process, but I need to be reassured.
We’ve been talking in Lanagan Media Group like it’s 1990s IRC, everyone checking in with each other across time zones. Most people are in the US, but I’ve got some in Europe and Asia as well. I think the biggest time difference is 12 hours, because one of my guys is in Seoul.
Speaking of time differences, I do not like falling back. It feels more like institutionalized jet lag at this point.
It is made easier by a nice lazy breakfast around people I like, coupled with a long enough drive to really stretch out and enjoy my car. The twists and turns on the road home were exciting and the handling on the Fusion is superb.
I am still in love with my blue-blocking sunglasses, because the reds and oranges of fall pop so much more- a built in Instagram-type filter for my face.
Now, I think it’s time to rest with a movie, possibly take a quick nap. I didn’t sleep well last night, and naps are why Sunday was built.
Stories That Are All True 