filial obligations

i wish they weren't. i mean "obligations". it would be great if i could just visit when i wanted, see them when i wanted, and not have to drive 3.5 hours and myself mad in the process! yesterday was my cousin's bridal shower. since i won't be here to attend the wedding (being the only one to be doing so for miles and miles of relations) it made sense to at least attend the bridal shower. but it turned the day into another one of those "nightmares have seen better days than this" kinda day:

wake up 5.15, go to berkeley, click click, walk 30 mins to pick up the car, drive to lafayette for another 30, eat amazing lunch and drink amazing "minty mango", drive back to berkeley for another 30, and then to stanford for an hour. by now, i'm already late for the bridal shower, which was to commence at 4. too much commencement already! i get ready, go to my favorite little art store "the annex" (favorite for no particular reason though, because i always fail to find anything of significant interest!).

then decide to drive up to lafayette. throat parched, i figure i can rely on my destination to take care of thirst, among other things. at alvarado niles, i decide it is better to first ensure that i reach my destination without fainting on the drive in the heat and the traffic (you never know, with me and fainting).

at the gas station, i see some high-school couples, corsage and all, going to a dance (probably). i wonder why they had *all* stopped there before heading off to wherever they were to head off to. it was an entertaining sight though (and boy! did i feel old).

well, anyway, i get back onto alvarado niles, drive on for a day, and finally get to 680N. another 30 miles, and i reach my desired exit. another 20 mins, and am actually at the house! i was filled with disbelief at the thought that i had actually finally reached my destination (no, seriously).

but i was 2.5 hours late :). the shower was to commence at 4, as i said earlier. i don't regret getting there late at all, but i'm sure i was complained about. anyway, i played bingo and won it, yay! and got a gigantic, nicely packaged, jasmine soap for my winnings. i also got a box of mints that says "anita's shower" on top. i don't know if i'm going to use it though :o

when i finally got back, it was late and i was too exhausted to lift a finger. but now for the things to be glad about, pollyanna style:

• when i woke up at 5.15, i was not sleepy at all. it was a pleasant awakening, and i would love to have one of those every morning, thank you.
• got some good pictures at the graduation. always a good feeling. especially to be able to capture just the right moments!
  
• saw mk after ages and ages and felt happy to be reassured that some things do not change.
• walked for 30 mins after ages and ages, through campus, and got some hard-to-find-these-days and much-longed-for exercise.
• drove to lafayette to discover an exciting new restaurant. cake was taken by "minty mango", the drink with the attitude. ummm yummm.
• felt amazed at the coincidence that 3 independent parties that attended graduation finished lunch at such times that it was possible to leave berkeley around the same time. given that we left the theatre at different times...
• also at the coincidence of s&s being behind us in their car at the exit from the freeway.
• wore an outfit i hadn't in 5 years, and it still fit.
• found a present at the annex, phew!
• did not dehydrate and faint on the freeway.
• won bingo, yay!
• was entertained by gg all the way on 680S.
• s answered my call, yay!
• and we talked and talked and talked and talked.
• (this deserves 3 bullet points, i am so glad!)
• and finally, went to sleep more tired than i had been in days. 'tis always wonderful to fall asleep in spite of every effort to stay awake.