My Trip to the Groovers

Alright, here goes nothing. Please, I beg of you, don't read the entire thing. I already have a feeling that it is going to be VERY long. ("Very" is up for interpretation.) Well, here I go, on the road again...

(sorry, couldn't help myself. Bob Seger is awesome...)

So, like all trips begin, mine begins with a motorized vehicle. Two, actually. I mean, it BEGAN with one but I used two. I drove to the airport, parked in Long Term Parking, and hopped on a shuttle to the US Airways terminal. I got on my flight no problem. I got a window seat, which really was no big deal (whether you like window seats or not) because the flight itself was only 25 minutes. I mean, you listen to Freebird and maybe 2 other songs on your iPod and you are already decending into Raleigh. How sweet is that?

So, I landed. I am STARVING right now. I haven't eaten since 8 in the morning (its 3:30 in the afternoon) since I had a TON of chores I had to get done before dad would let me go. But thinking the Groovers would be RIGHT outside waiting on me, I, like an idiot, go outside. Its a little chilly. Minutes later, I get a phone call from KB telling me to get comfortable because she was 30 minutes away. Being the gentleman/cool person that I am, I told her that I was TOTALLY okay with that and was feeling just fine. That was a LIE. I was freezing cold, super hungry, and had a serious case of jet lag...

(I hope you didn't fall for that one...)

So, she finally pulls up, with Kenny riding shotgun, and Jesse and Virginia in the back. I throw my gear in, say hi, give hugs, shake hands, and all that good stuff. Then we leave. On our way to KB's fiddle lessons, we stopped at a gas station. This was obviously providential, because it had a large store there too. So, I got a bag of Cool Ranch Doritos chips, kindly offered everyone some, and hated the people for the next 5 minutes that actually accepted my offer and took a chip. ;-) We got to KB's lesson, sat down, and made fun of her behind her back for almost and hour. (I also got to know Kenny a little better during that time. Nothing bonds people together like cruel and snide remarks about a person you both know. ;-)) After squeaking on her thing for an hour, we leave.

I don't think I have ever felt more loved at any time in my life then the reception I got from the Groover girls (younger ones, that is.) I stepped out of the car and they about took me down with hugs. Anna especially. I swear her middle name is spitfire. Or volcano. Or maybe even cannon. Lets just say that her personality fits her hair color perfectly. ;-) Anyway, I managed to drag myself inside (heh) and say hi to Mr. and Mrs. Groover. I threw my bags down, ate some dinner (chili dogs, baby) and me, KB, Kenny, Virginia, Jesse, Mr. Groover, Anna, and Rebekka all went to Jellybeans, a rollerskating rink. There we met up with KB's best friend Hana and her roommate, Jill, and we skated for almost 4 hours. It was a blast. I had to drag Anna a couple of times around the rink before she got comfortable (the loud music and fast skaters were a little intimidating) but after around 10 times she felt comfortable enough to do it herself a couple of times, which was a relief to us all. ;-)

Then we went home, played a game with notecards and pencils that I forget the name of (I was losing it that night. It was past midnight by that time and I had been up since 6:30) and then we went and watched a Brian Regan video, which I TRYED to stay awake in, but fell asleep laughing (no lie) and woke up laughing 5 minutes later after a hilarious joke. I was subconsciously listening and dreaming about the jokes...it was weird. So yeah, then we went to bed, and I was asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.

The next morning, I wake up to hear a strange voice outside Jesse's door. I look at the clock: 9 AM. I listen again, and think, "Is that HANA out there? THIS early in the MORNING??" Sure enough, she showed up right around 9 and hung out with us for the rest of the day, night, and the following day. It was awesome. So the first thing we did was eat breakfast, which is one of the six most important meals of the day (some people have three, I have six.) Then we went down to shoot KB's Glock. I don't like Glocks and shooting it then cemented that dislike, although I didn't do too badly. I just don't like them. I don't know why. But its a handgun, so it is going to be fun regardless of what kind. We shot for almost an hour. I shot my last clip as fast as I could, which is always fun. It was actually Hana's FIRST TIME SHOOTING A HANDGUN. I couldn't believe it. I mean, she is KB's BEST friend. Wow. That was shocking. But she did well, for a girl. (Just kidding, just kidding.)

After that, we played some frizbee and threw the football around and walked through Yonder Valley in KB's front yard. It was just fun to hang out and do pretty much nothing. I love doing nothing. At least, for a while. A couple days of nothing is awesome, but after a while it wears down on you. ANYWAY, back on topic. We found out that Jesse has a decent spiral, Kenny has got quite a bit of power in his throw for a lacross player, Hana can catch a frizbee and KB is so completely and utterly unathletic that it doesn't even deserve mention...

*ducks*

Just kididng. As far as form/technique goes, she can throw and catch with the best of them. She just lacks a WEE bit of power. But, thankfully, I saved the day, and balanced out the forces with an amazing amout of agility, form, speed, muscle, good looks, and humility...

;-)

After that, we went in, ate a late lunch, and went out to swing dance. I tried as HARD as I could to delay the inevitable. I karaoked Shania Twain on video camera with a mic on the Groover's PA system for the whole world to hear/see. I sang Freebird and Bubbly (don't ask; KB just wanted to see if I would do it. I guess I didn't dissapoint her, heh.) And then, we danced for like 45 minutes. I am proud to say that I have increased my incredibly versatile and extensive "move list" from one swing dance move to TWO swing dance moves. Actually, make that 3. I can spin a girl (sort of), dip a girl (kind of), and do an Around the World with anyone under 100 lbs (maybe.) ;-) So if you are feeling suicidal, come dance with me. *sings Frank Sinatra*

"Hey there cutes,
put on your dancing boots,
and come DANCE WITH ME!
Come dance with me, what an evening for some turpsicord.
Pretty face, I know a SWINGING place, come dance with me!
Romance with me on a crowded floor.
And while the rhythm swings what lovely things I'll be saying.
For what is dancing except making love set to music...playing."

(There is my karaoke for the day. You are all welcome.)

So yeah, it was a blast. After that, we went inside, ate some dinner, and then SAID GOODBYE TO KENNY!! It was so sad. That guy is awesome. (And although he claims otherwise, he is a very good swing dancer, and, unlike me, although I try to make everyone think otherwise, he obviously enjoys himself doing it.) So yeah, the Jeep left and we all cried. Not really, but you get the point. That night we watched a movie: "The Greatest Game Ever Played" (which is a lie, because we ALL know that football is and was the greatest game ever played) about GOLF. I had such a good time being obnoxious and guessing what was about to happen. I actually pretty much got everything right. I mean, the underdog wins (duh, like no one saw THAT coming) and he doesn't get the girl because she is way to beyond him socially. Of course, his father hates him and he has to try hard, in true Disney fashion, to win his LOVE back.

It sucked in a cool way. I liked it. ;-)

So yeah, *I* was ready to stay up LATE that night and hang out, since it would be the LAST night we would see each other. But EVERYONE else besides me and Virginia wanted to go to bed, and me and Viriginia decided without discussing it that it would probably be really boring staying up all by ourselves, so we went to bed too. Besides, we had church in the morning. So, I packed all my bags that night and got everything ready for the trip home, and went to bed.

I woke up, took a shower, got dressed for church, ate breakfast, and then we all went to church. Me and Virginia rode in Hana's car while the rest of the family braved it while Jesse drove the Big White Monster to church (he has his permit.) Virignia discovered a mandolin in the back seat and instead of being helpful with directions, she screwed around with it the whole time until we passed our exit. So, we doubled back, and still got their early. (Which says a LOT about how Hana drives. She is a girl, in that sense, after my own heart.) And then church. Regretfully, the pastor of Pilgrim OPC was not feeling too well (sore throat or something) so Arie Van Eyke preached to us. Very good sermon in Hebrew 13 (the benediction.) But what was REALLY cool was that that was the day that both KB and Jesse were to be admitted into the church as communicate members. Their pastor wanted to be a part of that, so he asked them the questions, and then prayed. But the BEST part was when Van Eyke got up to pray after, and he mentioned Jesse and KB, he called KB Mary Beth. Hana, me, Virginia, Jesse, and the Wills in front of us all had a sudden coughing fit in the middle of prayer. It was amainzg.

;-)

But it was really cool to be there for their first communion (KB's and Jesse's, that is.) A very cool time.

So after the service, I decided to be social and went around (after getting some cookies and amazing Carolina Coffee, which I had black) talking to Zach Simmons, Annie Slaughter, Kim and Kyle Will, and some other people there whose names I don't remember. It was fun. Afterwards, we decided to stay in the adult Sunday School in which they were discussing Biblical parenting. They were using the Bible (of course) and the book Shepherding a Child's Heart, which we have. Anyway, I really found out that I am going to be an amazing parent when I grow up. I have the natural desire to discipline children, which is obviously not what the rest of the world feels. ;-) Just kidding. It was an introduction to the future since that was the first week of that particular discussion. It was some good stuff, although not immediately applicable for me right now. ;-)

And then, after that, we went to the park to have a picnic lunch. We decided to do that instead of go home because it was already 1 PM, their house was around an hour away, and my flight left at 4:30. It just made sense to stay in the area. So I changed into some more comfortable clothes, ate, threw a football around with Jesse (he has definitely gotten better) and then we went on a random walk on a trail. During the walk I managed to hit Hana in the back of the head, COMPLETELY unintentionally, with a football, and I was driven to my knees and a hug to force her to accept my apology. ;-)

So finally it was time to to leave for the airport. Hana wanted to get home, so I said goodbye to her there. Then we drove to the airport. Hana called me on the way and told me to go to 96.1 FM on the radio. It was Freebird. ;-) Mr. Groover turned it on for about 20 seconds, and then off. He said it was too repetetive. It kinda is, but it is also an aquired taste. ;-) I had strategically placed myself in the back seat of the van so that when we got to the airport I could systematically go down each row and give everyone a hug goodbye. It worked perfectly. So they drove away, and a cloud went over the sun...

(not really.)

So, once in the terminal, it ends up my flight is PACKED. Since I am flying non-rev, it means that I am standby. I can only get on if there are extra seats. It ends up that there is only ONE extra seat and 4 stand-by passagers besides myself. I had already started looking into the later flights when the gate agent called me up and said that I got the only seat. WHICH WAS SO COOL. It comes down to seniority in the company, and I guess my dad, who has worked there for 7 years, had more then anyone else there (7 years isn't that much, so that was kind of surprising.) So yeah. I landed in Charlotte, hoped on a shuttle to Long Term Parking, got my car, paid the 11 bucks to get out, got on the interstate, and went home.

It was an awesome trip. I would love to do it again sometime soon. But yeah, since I have written this much, I think that I am not going to post on here for another 6 years, just to balance it out. Next time I do so it will be announcing the birth of my first child or something...

;-)

Happy, everyone?

;-)