Culture Shock

So, I went back 'home' - read to West Milford, this past weekend. I remember more and more reasons why I left almost everytime I go back... alright lets start at the very beginning (song cue: a very good place to start...end song cue)So, I leave work on Friday and take the long way to Sandies (song cue: it's a long way home....it's a long way home....end song cue). I didn't mean to take the long way, but something in my head said Route 1 would be faster than than Tpke. I don't know what I avoided, but I certainly took my time doing it. So I FINALLY get to her place, and I see Kellie. I love Kellie (see spelling because there are 2 Kel's in this story and they both spell their name's differently). I miss Kellie... I met Kellie in HS, about 2 years before I met Sam - and about 5 years after I met Sandie...so my world imploded a bit - okay a lot - but a bit none the less. I got there just in time to kiss the twins goodnight and help try to put them to bed. Yea, okay... did you see the operative word in that sentence? Try. Turns out the twinnies were sick and they CRIED! And when one would go to sleep the other would wake her up, and then little Sara started and I was like 'whoa'. 4 hours of visiting 3 hours were crying, but it happens. I got to catch up with Kellie, which was good. I almost felt myself rubbing my temples into hour two, but then I remembered ld_lorenzo, who tells how much it ticked him off when an ex-girlfriend of a friend of his did that when his son was little - so I apologized and went back to talking with Kellie and watching that 70's show.

After I got out of there, I really wasn't ready to go home, so I went to my ... ... friend Cindy's. I knew she would be at her parent's neighbor's house for his b-day party. So I showed up, totally surprising her - it's been about a year since we've seen eachother and about 8 months since we've spoken. We caught up - she helped me out with a lot of stuff that's going on in my life now that I have no frelling clue what to do about. My life has lent itself to a lot of interesting situations, but the ones' I'm in now - HER life has taught her how to deal with, so now she's helping me deal with mine. I felt so out of place, wearing my work clothes - which included an oversized pooh bear sweatshirt. So, we go over to Ted's (her neighbor) and we are about to go through the front door, when she swings me around and tells me that she didnt' want me to go in there without some warning. Apparantly my ex-boyfriend was in there hanging out. Now, when I say ex, you may think from like 5-7 years ago...but no, she's talking about a fellow I dated when I was 14!! I broke up with him 12 years ago. I'm like he's here?! And I'm so excited to see him...well he wasn't so excited to see him. Including ignoring me saying hello-etc. Apparantly he still feels some of it - from 12 years ago. Frelling odd. but, we'll get to that.

So I'm lookign around, and Cindy's pointing out all the 'red-neck things'. ANd I'm trying to pretend that this doesn't freak me out near as much as it does. Okay FLASHBACK song cue: Twist the bones and bend the back...end song cue:In HS I wanted to be invited to these parties...they were the outcast parties, in the back woods, where people smoke, drank, etc in black and talked about how much they hated their parents and their life and the school and how they were getting out of there someday.Flash Forward: With a few exceptions I looked at the same group of people - 10 years later, telling me that their lives were set, and this was all they were ever going to become...at 24-35. Ted is the only one in his 40's. It was so sad.

Oh, and let's not forget the ambiance:
3 fires going: one in a metal rimmed can, one in a wood burning stove that used to be indoors, but is now outdoors and one in the fire pit... yes, an actualy 20x30 fire pit.
Hundreds (no exaggeratioin) of blocks of chopped wood 'for the winter'.
A bug zapper I could fit in if I curled up (I have a picture of this thing, it's huge)
A half up volley ball net
A rusty storage shed
A motorcycle that doesn't run
2 Quads- because two were in the woods (being used)
One sports car was broken down, but Scott was able to fix that. I watched him, it was cool.
2 homemade benches - read a stump on either end, and a piece of wood GLUED across.

Okay, now that you're there with me...They decide that they want to make something go kaboom. So two of the people (Ted and Shock (Cindy's husband) do this for a living and Gary (my ex) has charges in his truck. I can't explain what they did, but it made a mushroom cloud of fire bolt out of that fire pit and make a big boom. I screamed, I'll admit it. The 2nd time they did it, the fire went out more than up - and there was no earth shatterng kaboom... which was good because the neighbors were hacked. Oh, did I mention they did this at 1AM?

Next day:Went to the bridal shower with mom, which was very nice.
Went out to dinner with mom, which was very nice.
Met up with Kelly and Melanie for Dairy Queen. Which rocked! I wish I could see them more often, I miss them so much!
Wished I could call Sandie to meet us, but I knew she wouldn't be able to get out. But, still it was awesome seeing Melanie and Kelly.
For 2 hours we were 3 peas in a pod, just like we used to be. :)

Next day:I went back to Sandies' and played with little Sara Rose - shes' too darn cute! The twins were napping, but at least that gave sandie and I time to catch up. Then I came back south and continued my odd ways. But I'm still like 'huh?' about friday night. That was just too frelling strange for me. I used to want to be these people, and now for the life of me I can't remember why.