At quitting time, I had to rush home from work because, like usual, I had not packed yet and we were leaving before 6pm for DC. I threw in as many different outfits as I could fit in the duffel bag, even though we only needed clothes for three days. If there were ever a need to be exact, I wouldn’t be exaggerating if I said I had enough clothes packed for two weeks.
The drive wasn’t so bad. On the way there, I was reading an old notebook that I had written all of the news down for media class in 2003. I was puzzled by this note that was left in there “Hey Blueberry: Stay cool & sing loud.” I have no Earthly idea who left it or why I hadn’t seen it before. After I read through that notebook, I got into my Native American Literature notebook and looked around at my notes.
After about two hours, we stopped for dinner and by that time it was dark so I played on my phone, totally consumed in those full-blown Twitter conversations about – oh – the general: #bedclothes.
We had to be out of our hotel room at 10am to meet the hotel shuttle at the front doors to be carried to the metro. While on the metro, I thought of Arwen as the voice over the intercom says “step back, doors closing.” I remembered that she wrote an answer to a Formspring question that she’d like to be that voice.
So, we got off the metro at the zoo stop and rode an escalator that took 2.5 minutes to go up. Once we got half way, I couldn’t look down. Someone was wanting me to move over so they could get through and I told them to find their way to the center because I my hand and body was NOT leaving the side rail, since I am afraid of heights.
As soon as we got there we followed the signs and went in the direction to the Panda Station. We ate lunch there and it was actually not too expensive for it being in Washington, DC and the zoo.
After resting a while after eating our food, we went to walk around the zoo for a bit. The most we got to look at in the zoo was a panda eating bamboo, the back end of a zebra, an elephant, a few random birds on the bird trail and flamingo fights of a flock of flamingos.
After walking there and back around, we passed an exhibit that’s being worked on from ground up. It completely looked like they were not projecting it as an exhibition for animals but an area for my #bedclothes, #fajb and Pitchmen group to have one amazing ball pit party. I thought of all of my Twitter friends while there, at the zoo, passing by that area. I would have tweeted that, hadn’t my cell phone completely junked out and died….like it purposely did the entire trip.
The most interesting part about the zoo, for me, was seeing the flamingos. However, my whole childhood has been masked a lie. Why, you ask? I found out that flamingos are not pink – they are actually bright orange. Whoever said they were pink (other than the feet and very back tail feathers) were colored blind and/or seriously deranged. Orange is NOT the new pink!
I must say I have never seen animals carry on like they did. The whole group, at one point, was standing on one leg trying to bite and fight with one another. Also, the song De Animals a-Comin’ was going through my head the entire time of this zoo visit. It was a song that the guys group sang in choir.
Oh, and to end this note… One funny thing did happen, though, while at the zoo. There was this woman that wore a shirt saying“You’ll never get lucky with me.” Yes, indeed; you wouldn’t have wanted to. Just.. saying.
I love riding the metro. I have no idea where it comes from, but I just enjoy it. Rode my first train in Chicago in year 2007 and it’s been love ever since, I think. It’s a big part of “the city life” because it’s a main way to have access to everywhere, easily avoiding the horrible traffic that has become of the cities.
There’s also something about thinking back to the days of travel where mainly did by train. Again, I wasn’t “in” those days but I think back on them like I was. It’s sometimes like I pause my life and daydream about being on a train, reading and writing with twelve more hours to go until reach the destination. It’s jus t something else I feel.
In addition: It’s kind of ironic that the beginning/ending main stop for us was the Vienna metro stop. Every time I hear “Vienna” I think Austria, Mozart AND the 1700s. Why else is this ironic? Because I often think about being in one of the big cities (Philly or DC) when it’s snowing and riding throughout the city in a horse and carriage. Of which, the horse and carriage ALSO reminds me of Vienna. I know this has nothing to do with metro trains – but, since we were already on the subject of a form of travel…
Before I completely wrap up my trip, I must mention that I live my life thoroughly by signs, metaphors and symbols. Most of my life I have questioned everything. Why this? Why that? You should do this – but why? You should really think about that before you do that – but why?
To me, life seems to be a big mystery that needs to be questioned. Along the way, there are clues – there are always clues (or signs) but you just have to look for them. You are your own investigator of your life. Life is the game, but you are clearly the “Clue” master at hand.
The game of Chess could also be related to life. One move, one bad move and it’s game over. One good move and it could possibly be a winning streak.
Most people would not like to live this way, you know, always looking for answers.
It wasn’t until 3 years ago that I really even started living life. I finally got out on my own, started REALLY experiencing the adult life. Even through the tough times, I like it so much. I would never want to go back to being a kid, as many wish to do.
I had always sat in the sidelines. While I sat there without change, the world was changing and moving on…without me. I was stuck in the past while calendar dates were being stolen by Mr. Time. I didn’t want that anymore, so I took charge. That might be the reason why I am addicted to change now.
I think mostly I do it for my stories. If anything else, I just want the information, the answers, in my hand – and quick! It serves some self purpose to be like “ah-hah, I’m so glad this worked out (or didn’t) because now ‘this’ has happened and ‘this’ wouldn’t have happened otherwise.”
But the thoughts inside my mind tells me I shouldn’t do this or that or even question it. I am my own contradiction. I may seem to say one thing but mean another. I never even know about me sometimes.
I am such a complicated person that no one, including me, will ever figure out. The end.
Your friend, Karen-Maeby
" Ever since I was a little girl and could barely talk, the word 'why' has lived and grown along with me. It's a well-known fact that children ask questions about anything and everything, since almost everything is new to them. That is especially true of me, and not just as a child. Even when I was older, I couldn't stop asking questions. I have to admit that it can be annoying sometimes, but I comfort myself with the thought that "You won't know until you ask," though by now I've asked so much that they ought to have made me a professor. When I got older, I noticed that not all questions can be asked and that many whys can never be answered. As a result, I tried to work things out for myself by mulling over my own questions. And I came to the important discovery that questions which you either can't or shouldn't ask in public, or questions which you can't put into words, can easily be solved in your own head. So the word 'why' not only taught me to ask, but also to think. And thinking has never hurt anyone. On the contrary, it does us all a world of good." —Anne Frank(Anne Frank's Tales from the Secret Annex)
