CREATE Memories: Tri State Fair

Friday night, we went to the Tri-State Fair with one of our favorite couples.

We walked, and talked, and people-watched, and ATE.  I now fully understand the meaning of the phrase, "too much of a good thing".  I'd never truly had fair food before, so I was determined to try as much as I could.   However, I was only able to tackle a funnel cake, curly fries, curly potatoes, cheese on a stick, and fried Oreos before my body begged me to stop.

We fell victim to the melodious charms of one of the carnies.  He managed to swindle several handfuls of tokens from the guys in only a few short minutes. Our big, strong men managed to win their "fair ladies" a turtle and lion.  (For the record, I love my turtle. Right now he's sitting on my printer watching me type. I still haven't named him.  Paul thinks he looks like a 'Squishy'.  And technically, the carnie didn't call the guys big and strong...he called them weenies...repeatedly! He also said they threw like girls.  I took offense to that, since I was the one who hit the most plates!!! lol )

We also rode the coolest roller-coaster ever.  It was a tilt-a-whirl cart on top of a roller-coaster track.  Every time we'd whip around a corner we'd spin around. It was AWESOME. I didn't have any troubles until the end. Apparently we had our heaviest passenger (NOT me) right at the CG (center of gravity for you non-engineers).  When we came around the last corner we spun, and spun, and spun, and spun...  I just knew all that fried food was going to make an reappearance. Eventually we did stop, and the men lifted us out of the cart because we were too drunk on g-forces to stand.

In spite of the expense and nausea, it was a lot of  fun.  I've never really enjoyed the fair before, but we had a terrific time and I think it was the beginning of a new tradition!

LIVING: What's my age again???

Tonight I went to WT for the National Society of Leadership and Success orientation meeting.  I'd been looking forward to it all week and was really excited. 

 However, as I pulled into the parking lot I began to feel apprehensive about the whole thing.  I started agonizing over the differences in age, career status, education , and life experience between me and the other members (and we aren't even going to discuss body type, shape, or condition!!!). Though we are all students, most are completing their 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year while this is my 10th in  higher education!  I told myself,  "I have no business going to this meeting, I should just turn around and go home."  I wanted to, but my inner rebel gently reminded me that my mom went back to college when she was in her 40s.  She was incredibly active in campus life, and loved every second of it.  Well, if she can do it, I can do it!

 
I arrived to the meeting (on time, hallelujah!) and found a place to sit.  There were 40-50 students there, and most were 19-23 years old.  I saw a couple (and I do mean 2) people who appeared to be close to my age.  For the first time in several years I was truly grateful that I look so much younger than I actually am. No one seemed to notice how out of place I felt, and I was able to settle in and enjoy the orientation.  After the initial presentation, we were divided into groups to begin our SNT (Success Networking Team) sessions.  We went around the group an introduced ourselves (name, major, place of birth).  All of the "kids" (how old am I?) were juniors and seniors in my group.  When I told them that I had a bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering and was working on my MBA, several of them were noticeably surprised. I was very pleased that no one had immediately tagged me as the old woman in the group.  The purpose of the SNT was to discuss our short-term goals and help each other determine ways in which to achieve them.   All in all, in was very enjoyable.

Then came the closing remarks.  The orientation leader got up and said, "One of the great things about this organization is the diversity that we have among members.  Nowhere on campus will you find a group this diverse..."  I nodded in agreement.  Even in my small group I had noticed that we had an even mix of gender, race, national origin, and major.  Many other students were also nodding their heads around the room.  The speaker continued, "We have a sampling from every group here at WTAMU.  Does anyone know what the average AGE of students at WTAMU is?"

Uh oh...  Someone said, "25", and the speaker replied, "That's correct!  25 is the average age, but LOOK at the diverse ages within this group!  We cover every age group."  I looked around the room, and again, only saw 2 others that looked even remotely close to my age.  I quickly did some super human math and determined that the average age of our group was 21 (with a fake ID), neglecting the 3 "old" outliers in the group. I tuned back in to the closing remarks only to hear him say, "It's important for us to understand how much we can learn from people of different age groups, and it says a lot that we are all represented here..." SERIOUSLY?  He was still talking about it?  He talked for another minute or so about age diversity, then released us.  I was shocked that someone giving an orientation for a leadership society could have fumbled the diversity conversation so badly. Especially when one considers that we legitimately had a diverse group.

I quickly left so I could go pick up some wrinkle cream and granny panties. I think I'll have some Oval-tine at bedtime and pull out my abacus to finish up my accounting homework.

Goodnight all...

Old Lady Crawford

LOVING: Bimal and Tina

There are people who come into your life and touch you in a way that no one else could. The sun seems to shine a little brighter when they are around, and you know the world is a better place because they are in it.

Bimal R. Patel, 1982-2012

The world lost one of these people today.  Bimal Patel was an incredible man, who brought love and joy to all of those who knew him.  He suffered a terrible tragedy and, after a long painful struggle, finally passed from this world.  I try to focus on his life, rather than the circumstances surrounding his death. But doing so makes the ending seem that much more unbearable.

Growing up, Bimal was one of my best friends.  He was funny and loyal, kind and endearing, steadfast and unfailing.   And though we haven't been close for years, my heart aches all the same.  I had the privilege of knowing him not only in adolescence but also in adulthood.  I'm proud to say that as a man he was the same wonderful person that I knew growing up.

 

 Our Wedding, 2009:  Paul, Travis, and Bimal

 Our Wedding, the "Claude" table:  Andrea, Bimal, JT, Sharon

 Prom, 2000?:  Bimal, Seth, Dustin, and Michael

 Band Trip, 2000: Bimal, Sharon, Me, and Michael

Tina M. Voyles, 1983-2004

Bimal is not the only person I have lost.  Another dear friend was taken from us in 2004, Tina Marie Voyles.  She was also of those special people that we were all honored to call a friend.  She was a miracle in my life, and I have never stopped missing her.  Though she's been gone for over 8 years, I still find myself awakening after bittersweet dreams of our time together.  I never dream of her the way she was, but always of who she would have become.  We share our lives, and families, and careers. We talk about what we've done, and what we plan to do. And then I awake, and remember, and am alone.  I will never forget Tina.  

8th grade graduation, LONG time ago, Me and Tina

 Tina, before Prom, 2001

Almost every memory I have of my youth involves one, or both, of these terrific people. We lived, learned, loved, and grew together. I feel like a part of me is missing, and can never be restored.  My experiences with Bimal and Tina shaped a large part of who I am today. 

Of course, there are many who loved Bimal and Tina. As a community, we greive. We are never whole again.  I think we lose a part of ourselves when we lose those special people in our lives. Life is unfair, and unjust, and short.  It makes those precious memories that much dearer, and allows us to embrace life with a whole new understanding.  We hold our loved ones a little closer, and try to never take a single moment for granted.  I thank God for taking these two from the suffering they endured, and ask that He hold them in His hands.  Though we mourn today, someday we will see them again.

Bimal and Tina, I love and miss you.  Thank you for allowing me to call you my friends.