In addition to the shrinking of time though, I'm finding that the world - or even just this country - is getting smaller as well. Before I moved to Vermont, the east coast was a far-away, untouched wonder for me - a land I was unfamiliar with and in which I knew almost nobody. After moving to Burlington, I really experienced the bi-coastal lifestyle - flying home for Thanksgiving was too much work, flying home for Christmas was expensive and an all-day ordeal, and no matter which coast I was on, I was always three hours ahead or behind of loved ones I wanted to call.
Over the last five years though, the country that lies between San Francisco and Burlington has magically shrunk, leaving me with too many "it's a small world" stories. Burlington, the little town I've come to love has both imported and exported people from the very area I grew up in 3,000 miles away. Somehow, us "bay area" people tended to flock toward each other at house parties, bars, coffee shops and more. I would see people with Amoeba music store shirts and shout to them from across the street. I would spot California license plates from several blocks away. I would get overly enthusiastic when I met someone from Berkeley in an English class. Somehow, being from "soooo far away" made it that much more magical to meet fellow NorCal-ers, even though I imagine everyone meets people from their hometown in Burlington.
Moving home this past summer though, I really felt that distance all over again - but not for long. With pretty much all of my high school friends spread out everywhere but Marin, life has been much quieter here. Nick and I spend the weeks coming home from work to make dinner, watch a little TV, and fall asleep early. On the weekends, we go into the city to meet up with Risa and Ben and although the four of us have a blast together, I find myself constantly thinking about my friends who are living together in Chicago, New York City, Burlington, and more.
This past weekend however, I couldn't help but laugh at the sudden onslaught of Burlington-ness that was brought upon Risa and myself. San Francisco hosted a giant, free, awesome bluegrass festival from Friday morning until Sunday night. There were several people I tried to meet up with who were all from Burlington but did not know each other and were all there for different reasons with different people. Unfortunately, the festival grounds were packed and chaotic and I was not able to meet up with any of said friends that day. "Of course," I thought. "It's just too unlikely." Sunday however, Ben, Risa, Julien, and I found a nice spot on the lawn for the Galactic show (Nick had to work). Fast forward one hour, after lots of calling and texting and searching, we soon had a solid Vermont crew! I found my friend Ari who went to UVM and just moved out here last year with her freshman year roommate. I also found our friend Kate Healy who worked at Halvorson's and just moved to Tahoe and came to SF for the festival. Risa found her friend Katie Foreman from UVM who was in town visiting her sister. I mean, how ridiculous that we should all meet up 3,000 miles away from the place where we all met and all be there for different reasons.
Sitting on that lawn, Ari and Kate both separately told me how sad they were that I was moving back to the east coast so soon when they had just made the big move out here. For a minute, I felt the overwhelming weight of what I am leaving behind. The thing is though, I'm always leaving something behind. I have two lives; one on the west coast and one on the east coast. I can't let myself get sad about the things I'm missing out on because there is just no solution to the fact that there is a massive spread of land between the two places I wish I could be simultaneously located in. Yet, the little Vermont crew that we formed this weekend in Golden Gate Park just helped remind me that there is goodness to be found wherever you go and that truly, it is a small world if you want it to be. It's always better to view your life as a glass that's half-full rather than half-empty. I'm laughing at myself but all this reminded me of a line from Sex and the City, so I went and looked it up:
"After all, things change. So do cities. People come into your life and they go. But it's comforting to know that the ones you love are always in your heart...and if you're very lucky, a plane ride away."
Who knows which coast I'll end up on after grad school, or even if I'll end up somewhere in between. All I know is that I feel blessed with my options and the people who are a part of each of those options.
No comments:
Post a Comment