There And Back Again: A Kari-and-Christie-Getting-Lost-In-The-City Tale

Dear Friends, 

I told you on Facebook that I would explain why it took Kari (she's my baby sister, for those of you who don't know. I love blogging because it gives me the freedom to call her my "baby sister" even though she's approximately 7 feet taller than me) and me two hours to make it home from the river yesterday. I told me coworker the story today and all she said was "Girl, it's just Richmond. How on earth do you get lost in this tiny little city?" And I would like to say right now that since this experience, I've asked myself the same question many times. I would also like to say that this adventure opened my eyes to the many different kinds of people who live in Richmond. The nice ones, the not-so-nice ones, etc, etc. So here we go. I hope you read it all, but if you don't...then just pretend you did. 


Kari texted me when I was out and said: "Hey, want to go to the river tomorrow?" Immediately I knew what my answer was ("YES!") because so far my summer had consisted of working, catching up on Pretty Little Liars, working, and watching the Bachelorette. And working. My tan was sadly lacking and I was going through water-and-sand-and-swimsuit-and-sunscreen-and-basically-everything-summer-should-be withdrawal. So off to the river we went. We made to the parking lot and, towels in hand, made our way down to the lovely little beach beneath the train tracks. We put our stuff down in the sun, went for a swim, and decided to lay out for a while, looking very too-cool-for-you in our shades. We spent about an hour and half there because I had plans that night, and as we ambled over to my car, we realized something very disturbing. A massive golden truck had parked directly behind us, leaving no room for me to back out. Okay, so maybe he wasn't directly behind us, but for someone with my driving skills and minimum amount of patience, he was pretty much directly behind us. I couldn't believe it. As we got into my car, I tried and tried to back out...to no avail. A kind Korean man came to rescue us, and directed me out. I had almost made it, when he shrugged and said: "This no good. You not make it. Sorry!" and wandered off. So, with "Call Me Maybe" playing mournfully in the background, Kari and I sat in my car, trying to hold back tears. We would be stuck in the parking lot under the train tracks forever. Then, as if sent from the Lord, a red truck pulled up behind us. "Hey!" a man covered in tattoos with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth yelled, giving a chin up. "I could drive it and get it out for you!" His girlfriend, also with a cigarette and too many piercings to count, nodded in agreement. I shot out of my car like a bullet and gave a heartfelt grin while saying, "You can give it a try, I think that it's impossible though!" He snorted and parked a little ways down the lot. One thing everyone should know about boys - if there's a challenge, they're up for it. With my (ah, pretty limited) experience with boyfriends and my (pretty vast) knowledge of my brother and my father, they will conquer the challenge and they will win. So of course, I handed my little set of keys to the guy and stepped back. He rolled down the window and started to back out, but not before shouting: "You got my back, baby?!" to his girlfriend, who was behind the car, making sure he wouldn't run into anything. "I got you, baby, we can do this!" is what she shouted back affirmatively. With his girlfriend directing in the back, and Kari directing in the front, and me watching in great admiration and awe, he backed out my car safely. "You know, I can't believe somebody would park so close," He said, throwing his cigarette onto the ground and squishing it with his heel. "Some people don't give a (insert profane word) about other people." Many profane words later, his rant ended, and I realized how kind he and his girlfriend were. I thanked them profusely and Kari and I were on our way. I'm kind of tired of writing now, actually, but know this. Kari and I drove up and down the same streets for another hour. We got gas at a sketchy 7-Eleven and I paid in cash and made conversation with a guy who's pants were essentially on the ground and his shirt down to his knees, as well as a girl who had purple hair and piercings covering her face. We finally made it home, after yelling at each other, laughing with each other, crying with each other, and eating loads of McDonald's with each other. To this day, we blame Dad for his direction giving skills, but that's just because it's always nice to shift blame. Also, here's a life lesson for you all: Don't judge someone by how they look. The unlikeliest looking people will be the ones to save the day if you give them the benefit of the doubt. Life would be a lot better if we'd look beneath the surface and give everybody an equal chance. Now that I've written too much and preached a little, I'm going to bid you all farewell. So, uh, farewell. 


Also, I'm still as white as ever, save a killer sunburn on the back of my legs. 

Me and Kari before our great adventure

Love, Christie