Dear Google,
In the past, I used to think elegant literary phrases were just that - literary. Little did I know that many of them were actually accurate descriptions of reality. For example, today I'd like to reminisce about my experiences with the phrase...
"THE NEXT THING I KNEW..."
The next thing I knew, I was flat on my back. The next thing I knew, I woke up face-down on the sidewalk. You hear things like this all the time in books and blog posts or wherever. I thought it was just a nice phrase to get the point across that something happened very quickly. Surely, if someone was falling, they would be aware of the falling sensation, right?
Well that's what I though too, until it happened to me...
"...I was flat on my back."
I was at a church young single adult activity. We were playing an intense game of capture the flag. My team was doing pretty great, and, as one of the quickest and sneakiest runners on my team, I found a chance to capture the enemy flag and bring it home. I was bolting towards the flag, running in a wide arc that would bring me around the flag and right back into my team's territory.
But as I closed in on the flag, I caught sight of one of the guys from my team charging towards the flag from the opposite side as me. There was nothing either of us could do. We reached the flag at the same time, and then it happened. Boom. THE NEXT THING I KNEW, I was flat on my back. There was no falling. No bracing myself. In the same moment that I slammed into my teammate's solid body, I also found myself flat on the ground. And yes, I SAW STARS too. Another fancy phrase I thought was made up. (In fact, it was almost a full 5 minutes later until they left me. Stubborn little things.)
"...I woke up face-down on the sidewalk."
Yes, this happened to me too, just the other day. No, I was not intoxicated with drink or high on drugs. I just ran a bit too hard.
So this is what went down. I was running along, just like any other day. I supposed I was going a bit quicker than usual, and, just because I felt like being lazy, I stopped at a patch of grass next to the sidewalk to stretch. But I must have bent down a little too quickly, because I started getting woozy. I tried to walk it off, but soon gave in to the darkness and knelt down, clutching the grass and trying not to vomit.
THE NEXT THING I KNEW, I woke up face-down on the sidewalk. My cheek was pressed up against the concrete and I had to uncrumple my fingers, also smashed up against the ground, to push myself up. A lady had pulled over and was about to get out of her car to help me out, but I waved her along, confident that there was nothing wrong with me.
I got up and ran along like nothing happened, but gradually began to realize how strange that little incident was. First of all, how did I get from the grass to the sidewalk? Second of all, why did my shoulder hurt? (I took a peek - yep, all scratched up.) Thirdly, why was I breaking out in hives everywhere? And finally, how long was I out? It must have been longer than I thought if I'd managed to rub my face in noxious weeds, move all the way to the sidewalk, and fall hard enough to bruise my face, shoulder, and jam three fingers.
It's a mystery. A total and complete mystery.
But both of these experiences were really exciting. Gotta say. I hope you all get to experience a NEXT THING I KNEW moment at least once. But be safe, please. Until next time! BYEEE Google!!
Friday, May 16, 2014
Friday, May 2, 2014
Star Struck
Ok. As a computer, this is nothing you can comprehend, Google. But I'm telling you - being star struck is the strangest sensation ever. Now, I've led a surprisingly celebrity-free life so far (it's unfortunate) but the few times it has happened...well, I'll just tell you the story.
STORY #1
This was a gift from above. My very favorite band in the world, Lifehouse, was coming to my hometown, and I was NOT going to miss them. But if they had come one day sooner, or one day later, I would have HAD to miss them and then be depressed for the rest of my life. Because one day sooner was Sunday (not on the Sabbath!) and one day later, I would basically be leaving for a 18-month mission. No go.
But luckily, things worked out, and my cousin and I claimed a great spot on the second row (standing) with an un-obscured view and nearly within arm's reach of the stage (thank you general admissions!).
The opening acts came on, and after I saved Kris Allen from falling off the stage - go me! - it was finally time for Lifehouse to come on stage.
Now you have to realize, that I'd never met or even seen anyone really, really famous before. So somehow, my mind had not 100% grasped the concept that these people actually lived and breathed in the same world as me. So the moment when each member stepped on stage, I literally couldn't believe it. Here, in flesh and blood, these idols stood right in front of me.
I'll admit that I kind of went out of my mind. But fortunately, I managed to get a semi-decent grip on myself and spent the remainder of the concert soaking up the scene.
And THEN - at some high point during one of their classic songs - Jason Wade, my most adored, admired celebrity in the world, reached down and grabbed my hand.
In one fell swoop, the whole world disappeared. Everything: sound, sight, smell... gone. The only thing I was aware of was his hand. I have no idea what song they were playing; I don't even remember seeing him crouching above me (which really is a shame). But for days after, I could still feel his hand.
It was the strangest sensation ever. Who knew that a person could become so awe-some to another, that a simple touch could literally obliterate all other senses. It was insane. Star struck. Who knew?
STORY #2
Now this second star struck scenario wasn't even with famous people. It was with one of my BFF's family. She is from Europe and her "exotic" family flew in for her graduation/wedding. She loved her family and talked about them and to them all the time. I'd seen pictures and heard stories, but never met or talked to any of them.
But then I pulled up to the wedding and saw her father and brothers pass by. And it happened again. I was completely entranced all day long, but too terrified to try to talk to or even make eye contact with them. I don't know how or when they transformed into stars in my mind, but it happened.
So, moral of the story - I acted like a complete idiot around them all day, and now they probably wonder how their posh daughter could possibly be such good friends with me. Oh well.
LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT TIME
Even now that I've experienced the whole star struck thing multiple times, I'm sure I'll act just as stupidly the next time it happens. But that's why it's so great, right? What's the point of even having celebrities if we don't get to enjoy the out-of-your-mind, loosing-all-control, insanity of star struck-dom. I sure wouldn't want to live in such a boring world. So bring it on!
STORY #1
This was a gift from above. My very favorite band in the world, Lifehouse, was coming to my hometown, and I was NOT going to miss them. But if they had come one day sooner, or one day later, I would have HAD to miss them and then be depressed for the rest of my life. Because one day sooner was Sunday (not on the Sabbath!) and one day later, I would basically be leaving for a 18-month mission. No go.
But luckily, things worked out, and my cousin and I claimed a great spot on the second row (standing) with an un-obscured view and nearly within arm's reach of the stage (thank you general admissions!).
The opening acts came on, and after I saved Kris Allen from falling off the stage - go me! - it was finally time for Lifehouse to come on stage.
Now you have to realize, that I'd never met or even seen anyone really, really famous before. So somehow, my mind had not 100% grasped the concept that these people actually lived and breathed in the same world as me. So the moment when each member stepped on stage, I literally couldn't believe it. Here, in flesh and blood, these idols stood right in front of me.
I'll admit that I kind of went out of my mind. But fortunately, I managed to get a semi-decent grip on myself and spent the remainder of the concert soaking up the scene.
And THEN - at some high point during one of their classic songs - Jason Wade, my most adored, admired celebrity in the world, reached down and grabbed my hand.
In one fell swoop, the whole world disappeared. Everything: sound, sight, smell... gone. The only thing I was aware of was his hand. I have no idea what song they were playing; I don't even remember seeing him crouching above me (which really is a shame). But for days after, I could still feel his hand.
It was the strangest sensation ever. Who knew that a person could become so awe-some to another, that a simple touch could literally obliterate all other senses. It was insane. Star struck. Who knew?
STORY #2
Now this second star struck scenario wasn't even with famous people. It was with one of my BFF's family. She is from Europe and her "exotic" family flew in for her graduation/wedding. She loved her family and talked about them and to them all the time. I'd seen pictures and heard stories, but never met or talked to any of them.
But then I pulled up to the wedding and saw her father and brothers pass by. And it happened again. I was completely entranced all day long, but too terrified to try to talk to or even make eye contact with them. I don't know how or when they transformed into stars in my mind, but it happened.
So, moral of the story - I acted like a complete idiot around them all day, and now they probably wonder how their posh daughter could possibly be such good friends with me. Oh well.
LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT TIME
Even now that I've experienced the whole star struck thing multiple times, I'm sure I'll act just as stupidly the next time it happens. But that's why it's so great, right? What's the point of even having celebrities if we don't get to enjoy the out-of-your-mind, loosing-all-control, insanity of star struck-dom. I sure wouldn't want to live in such a boring world. So bring it on!
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