12.23.2002

Lots of stuff to talk about... I'll probably leave some stuff out because that's the nature of this sort of thing, but whatever...

a) FINALS ARE OVER!!! It's thrilling, no question. My first semester in law school has come to completion, and (knock on wood) I think I passed! I wish I could've been there while everyone celebrated the last day of finals, but alas, I had to pack and get ready because I was supposed to leave for the airport two hours after I turned in the exam... it's all good in the end... I wasn't feeling so celebratory, to tell you the truth. I dunno... I think it just takes my body a longer time to wind down. I was so in a certain mindset during finals... a lot more studious, focused, unhappy, all that... what I needed was a nap with no alarm.

b) The reason I had to leave NYC so quickly after finals was that my good friend from my hometown, Alpa, was getting married! During the ceremony itself, she and Mathias (the husband) looked so happy... giddy almost... making googley eyes at each other and whatnot. Cute, no question. My friend Saraklein and I saw Alpa's first tears... it was so emotional and great for her! Of course, by "it," I mean the eternal union between her and Mathias. The actual ceremony and reception and all that... well, that's a different story. Alpa is the type to want only the closest of friends and family to be around... she HATES being in the center of attention. Really, a traditional wedding, where everybody pretty much gawks at the bride is her worst nightmare. And funny thing, she thought she would be able to have a wedding and celebration of her choice... but she obviously forgot she was in a social, Indian family where the wedding is probably less about you and more about having a big to-do with the entire Indian community, no matter how far removed, involved. Alpa could've been happier. But she did well, keeping that perma-smile on as the camera flashes went off, and then she was able to retreat back into the corner with her hubby and smile.

c) I was thrilled I could be at the wedding for Al... she's the most genuinely GOOD person I know... she's so honest and giving, would never hurt a fly. I had to keep reminding myself of this throughout the actual wedding ceremony and through the first part of the reception. For a lot of the time, I felt as though I was being attacked by a lot of the Indian community that had come to the wedding. I, of course, have rarely made an appearance to a lot of the Indian events because I HAVEN'T BEEN IN OHIO FOR ANY EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME SINCE HIGH SCHOOL... but I still got comments like,"Oh, where have YOU been this entire time," or "Oh, where have your parents been, don't they want to celebrate this with us?" or "Why haven't you come to this event or that event" implying one thing or another. It was all very awkward and weird. Even with some friends who came to the wedding, I felt as though I didn't have anything in common with them anymore. It was kind of discouraging. This was until a woman my age and what looked like her mother started staring at me. Then the mother exclaims,"Oh my GOD, is that AMIT?!?" As it turns out, the girl my age was a childhood friend who I was super-tight with until she moved away when I was 7. I actually spent a lot of those years at playing at their house... her mom was practically my babysitter. I haven't seen or spoken to her since then. However, from the point that we re-met, she and I hung out and chatted for the rest of the reception. It was amazing. I don't even know how to properly describe it in words. It was like... well... it was like this part of me that has been missing finally came back. And you know how sometimes you can meet people, and it's like,"Oh, it's been so long, I don't know where to start," and it feels awkward for a little bit. There was no awkwardness between she and I... it was just like we picked up where we left off and started giggling in the corner like we did when we were kids. The best thing about all this is that I'm not going to have to wait another 17 years before we hang out again. As it turns out, she's going to Harvard for grad school, and will be coming to NYC twice in the next month. Now I'm planning a trip to Boston to see her. We're going to go back to being the best of friends... like we ever had a choice to being with. ;)

I'm reading back over this, and I think I can tell the story much better in person... if you're interested, just ask me about it when you see me... I'm sure it'll be much more entertaining that way.

posted by phat tony 12:50 PM