I feel like I should be more stressed or worried, but I feel completely calm and cool. It hasn't hit me that this is my last night in my house in Jordan, NY. But clearly, everyone else does.
My Mother has been crying on and off for the last few days. Today, she took me out for one final "Mommy and Melanie Day." We first went to Chilies. I'm not the biggest fan of the restaurant chain but nothing says American like ordering to much imitation Mexican food. We kept on talking about London; how I was going to love it and how I can't forget my passion. She's afraid I'll fall in love and never come back home. Oh Mom...
We then went to one of my favourite places on earth: Barnes and Noble. To me, one of the greatest joys in the world is buying a hot chocolate and browsing the stacks of books, DVDs, CDs and hot nerds. I'd received a $100 gift card for Christmas and was excited to spend it. Mom tagged along with me for a little while but went n her own way after a half hour. I ended up getting the Complete 1980's Beauty and the Beast TV Series (I'm obsessed with it. The reboot does not give it justice.), a copy of Interview with the Vampire: Claudia's Story ("I Want More"... tehe... Claudia could kick Bella's ass...), Ramin Karimloo's CD (Look up "Till I Hear You Sing" from Love Never Dies or the 25th Anniversary Concerts of both Les Miz and Phantom) and a 2013 planner. I can't take the DVDs or CDs to London but they'll be a nice treat for when I return.
After, Mom and I headed over to Great Northern Mall to get some last minute things. The mall was packed with people returning ugly Christmas gifts and using up gift cards. I wanted to shop quickly because Mom was getting tired and I didn't want her to feel overwhelmed. By the end of our shopping trip, I got a new red coat, socks, jeans and some sweaters.
Driving home, I began to make plans with my sisters about going out to dinner tonight after we packed a little. Hannah wanted to go to Tully's but Mom said no because it would be crowded on a Friday night, Christie then said Chilies but that was out of the question because I had eaten their earlier today. Christie and I then thought Denny's wound be perfect but Hannah was against it ("I'M NOT GOING TO DENNY'S! NOT AGAIN!"). We finally decided to go to Applebee's.
When I got home we started to pack. Are plan is to leave tomorrow morning and head to Washington DC and I fly out on December 31st, New Years Eve.(Dad says it's cheaper to fly out of DC on New Years Eve, even though flying out of NYC would have been the easiest.). Christie and Hannah had a blast making fun of my underwear and criticized my lack of fashion (T-Shirts are not hip, apparently...). We had to roll all of the clothing so it could fit into the two suitcases (Great tip from Bethany, one of the heads at the Study Abroad Office at Potsdam.).
After an hour, Christie, Hannah and I drove the the Applebee's in Auburn. We talked and joked the whole way there and was excited to find a DJ at the restaurant playing some really fun music. Hannah and Christie danced in the booth while I tried to dance with them, an epic fail on my part.
The worst par of the night was our waitress. She was very rude and disrespectful to us. Because we are our Uncles had worked in he restaurant business most of their lives, we always knew to NEVER be nothing but nice to the service. The horror stories of what our Uncles told us about what they did to rude customers goes far beyond just spitting in their food...
Halfway through our meal, I saw a sign on the table that said that if the server did not tell us about gift cards, we'd get free boneless wings. Since I ordered boneless wings and our waitress never mentioned the gift cards, I told Christie to tell our waitress that I had the right to free boneless wings (Free Fatty Food: Another American Tradition). Christie told a waiter who came to fill our drinks. He obviously told our waitress because she came storming over, slammed her hands on the table and muttered about something about gift cards. Hannah was angry, saying that if we were charged for the boneless wings, she would turn into our Mother, meaning all hell would break lose.
So of course, when the bill came, we were charged. Hannah demanded we see a manager. Christie and I just started at each other. This wasn't going to be pretty. It took 20 minutes for the manager to finally see us and by that time, Hannah was ready to let him have it. After telling him it was the worst service she was ever dealt with, the manger gave us a coupon for free boneless wings the next time we came in ("Like I'll ever come here again!"- Hannah), offered us some drinks (yes, serve some alcohol to my underage sisters) and stay for the dance party. We declined and after he walked away and we got our change, Hannah got up to leave.
"Ugh... Hannah. You forgot to give her a tip." For some reason, my parents had given Hannah the money for dinner.
"No way is she getting a tip! You better not leave her anything!" And walked out.
Me and Christie looked at each other for a second, looked at out table with the dirty dishes and bolted for the door before our waitress came back. As we got into the car, we saw through the window our waitress at our booth, screaming at the manager. It felt good to be a rebel on my last Friday Night... :)
On the way home, Hannah played some Flo Rida, Taylor Swift and "Gandam Style." All three of us belted and tried to harmonize with the music. We passed my old high school on the way home. I looked at the building full of memories good and bad. Dreams were dreamt and created there. A lot of the kids in my graduating class planned on either staying home or going off to college to pursue a 9 to 5 job that was guaranteed to give them a comfortable lifestyle. But not me. My plans for life were going to doing what I love to do, no matter how successful (or unsuccessful) I became. Going on this journey to London in hopes that my dreams will become realities.
When we got home I finished up my packing and now, after thinking about for a little while, it is really hitting me. I'll enjoy my final night in my bed, with it's jean comforter and memory foam topper. I know not much will change in this house, this town, this area, but I know I will.
This Friday Night, I'm a Central New Yorker. But I'll be a Londoner next Friday night...
Defy Gravity
Melanie
Christie Helping Me Pack.
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