Since my job cut everyone's hours, and I discovered I had an entire week off, I decided to go to Rhinelander, Wisconsin. I had lived up there from June 14, 2001 until my family sold the house in spring of 2006. I had graduated from high school there and have a strong attachment to the town. I left Monday, Memorial Day, and stayed til Saturday May 31st. I shacked up with an old buddy of mine from high school, who we will call Kirby. At first it felt awkward, probably because five years had passed since I'd seen him, but then I got comfortable and it became a blast.
My first morning there was an event to remember. Kirby is living in town and the houses in town are very old, but quaint. So I was attempting to figure out how the shower works. At my house, nearly 3 years old, one has to pull up on this little silver knobby thing on the faucet then it tranfers the water to the showerhead. It was not like that for this shower. Yes, there was a silver head thing on the faucet but when I pulled it up, nothing happened! The water went away but it did not come out of the showerhead. In fact, I have no idea where it went. I was so frustrated so I went downstairs to wake Kirby but then I remembered he said he didn't wake up that easily and I don't like to wake friends when they're sleeping anyway. I figured I could wait till he got up. Then as I passed the bathroom on my way back to my room I got angry. I wanted to win! So I attempted to battle the shower again. Still, to no avail. But at this point I really wanted my shower. So I resolved to do it European style. Sort of. I got in the tub, ran the water from the faucet, and took my shower that way. Yes, I was cold, yes I hit my head a few times as I washed my hair under the running water, but I couldn't stop laughing. I'm surprised I didn't wake Kirby with it. The situation went from highly frustrating to hysterical and it was awesome. However, I would not wish to repeat the experience. I had Kirby show me how to work it properly later that night. Yeah, apparently that's what the circular knob in the middle of the hot and cold knobs was for. You pull it out and it turns the showerhead on. Haha, most interesting indeed. I guess you had to be there.
It was cold and rainy for the next two days. I spent this time visiting my old haunts and walking up and down the streets of downtown, popping into my favorite bookstore and dining at a popular cafe. It was so surreal, but in a good way. It felt like coming home.
I had wanted to visit my high school. I really did love it there and I wanted to visit with some of my old teachers, but my friends and other things kept me so occupied I didn't find the time. But that's okay. I had so much fun spending time with my ex-boyfriend, Chris. He was always a good buddy and shows me a great time whenever we hang out.
Living with Kirby was better than I thought it would be. He's a musician and he played for me almost whenever I wanted and then he gave me my space. And his room. Poor guy. Such a gentleman. Except when he got me drunk on cheap wine. I had made dinner for us that night and he bought me some blush wine and some Pinocchio wine for himself. I got a little too tipsy and began to notice that he kinda liked me. Or perhaps it was just the way I was dancing to his music that turned him on. Either way, he kept himself in check and never made me feel uncomfortable after that night. Nor did I give him the chance. One night I went to one of his gigs and I did something there so out of character. I met a guy and went home with him to his place. Nothing happened, mind you, and I know how dangerous it could have been, but I had my pepper spray on me and an adrenaline rush like none other. I stayed there till 3AM then went 70MPH down hwy 47 to make it back to Kirby's place. I had his keys. Oops. He had been waiting for half an hour, and I felt so horrible. Thankfully he was cool about it and laughed off my hysterics. He said he saw me leave with that guy, who we'll call Frederick, and was more worried about me than anything. Honestly, I was too and I will never do that again. But had you seen how hot this guy was, you might have considered going home with him too. I gave him my number before I left, but I seriously doubt we'll ever speak again. Somethings are good for one night only. Additionaly, he seemed just like any other 24-year-old kid: self-involved and care-free. Not at all boyfriend material.
But low and behold, the very next day I met someone else. Let's call him Charles. Yes. Charles in Charge! He came out of nowhere and struck me down. Quite literally! He's the little brother of a guy I knew in high school and we reconnected on facebook. Ahh, good ol' facebook. And through our exchanged messages we decided we'd hang out when I came back to visit all my other friends. So that Thursday, he had foam-fighting practice in the park (ha, don't ask), and I met him there to watch. He noticed me as I approached and hugged me like we'd been friends forever. It wasn't one of those awkward hugs either. It felt nice and comfy. Odd, right? Throughout practice he was very kind, introducing me to other people I recognized and explaining the game to me. During breaks he came and sat at the picnic table with me and put his arm around me. I figured he was just trying to make me feel included, which he did, thank goodness. Everything was going great. It was such a beautiful day to be in the park. The air was perfectly warm, the lush greenery providing the perfect backdrop, and I was among old friends. I was home again.
After many of th eplayers retired for a longer break, sitting around chatting, Charles convinced me to play. I was hesitant, but I finally thought, "Oh what the hell?" I knew I would be bad, even if the sword was made of foam stuff, and people might stare but I didn't care for some reason. I picked up a sword and duelled with Charles. Naturally he is a mor eexperienced player and whopped my butt, but he restrained his strength for a spell and I got a few good slashes. Thinking I was just that good, my ego wanted to play and it came out with a vengence. Ha! I was no match for the mighty Charles. In any other circumstance I'd have been embarrassed, but he kept me comfortable but I have no idea how. Afterwards, as I lay my sword on the table in defeat, he kissed me. Right there in the pavillion. It completely took me by surprise. Not a knock-me-over kind of kiss but it still had an affect on me. So I picked up my sword and challenged him again with renewed strength. How dare he kiss me without my permission? This duel with him was very heated and tense. Completely opposite of the fun comfortable one we had just finished. This time he really knocked me over a few times. And yes, I mean to the ground! Some gentleman!
We spent the rest of the evening together. He had to mow the lawn so I suggested I come watch. In fact I suggested everyone come watch. We all went to Subway and then just another girl and I went back to sit on a blacket and watch him work. Ha, that's the way it should always be. Too bad I didn't have grapes to throw at him! Aren't I just horrible? When he finished his chore we said adiu to Nicole and he and I drove to a street near the airport to look at the landing strip. Sometimes planes come down overhead and it's so cool to watch from this road - they fly right over, and very low. There was no activity so we just watched the stars from the hood of my car, Zoey. Yes, I named my car. There was a shooting star almost right away too. We both wished on it. For a moment it reminded me so much of the night I spent doing this with Ben. But this night was different. It felt different. Charles was different. More different than anyone else I knew. In a good way, definately, but also in a weird way. Just watch him participating in regular daily activity and you might find yourself saying, "what a weirdo." But a cool kind of weird. The kind of weird one wants to be.
Charles and I spent the rest of my time in Rhinelander together. A cummulation of one and a half days. Not nearly enough time. I am going back soon, however, and the day can't get here soon enough.
