So what do you know? I come back from spending the most amazing weekend with my college buddies in Atlanta only to find that my external hard drive has crashed and as a result I have lost ALL of my food photos taken from this year! You can imagine how horrendous those initial hours (felt like an eternity) were. I cried in anger, disbelief, and utter helplessness. I backed up everything onto this hard drive in case my computer ever crashed, never imagining that it would be the one ending up failing on me. I'm okay now. If I absolutely cannot recover the files, then I shall press on. After all, time is neither sympathetic nor forgiving. Life goes on...and so must I. Deep breaths. Ok. That's all I want to say about that. Onto my weekend recap...
Last Friday, I went to Atlanta to spend the weekend with one of my dearest college friends, Janet. We've known each other since our years of innocence when merely walking down fraternity row made us nervous. Together we gained the "freshmen 15" and became cereal-eating monsters when money ran low. We revelled in our newfound freedom (although it took me a while to get over my home sickness) and made some very "wise" decisions. We saw each other through heartbreaking times and have come out stronger because of them. Victorious even. Janet may be petite, but don't let that fool you. Her unexpected inner strength and unyielding willpower continue to amaze me even to this day. Of course, she would deny this. So typical of her.
What years of friendship has assured me of is that she is someone whom I can confide in completely without a moment of hesitance. I shamelessly expose my ugliness and countless imperfections being certain that she will embrace me with open arms regardless. So I take full advantage and pour out my heart to her when I can. Thank you, my dear friend, for always being there for me.
On Saturday, we took a trip down memory lane. 12 years ago we met at Emory University for the very first time. 8 years is how long it took for us to return. Now we are both 30, wishing for nothing more than to return to the days when studying was the only real responsibility we had (why was that so difficult?!), when we could see each other regardless of the hour, and when pulling an all-nighter was a piece of cake. Now we're asleep by 10pm and not before going through our nighttime anti-wrinkle regimens.
I'd forgotten how beautiful the campus was (and still is despite the gloomy skies). We walked the grounds recollecting, quickly becoming in tune with the fact our memories have begun to fail us. If it wasn't for her, I would've taken a picture in front of someone else's freshmen dorm window. Good thing we had each other. Together we pieced together all or most of the question marks.
We left the campus promising we would someday return with our children to keep our memories alive.
Janet and Lisa took me to some amazing eateries. They are so good to me ;). Lisa is another college friend whom I've lost touch with over the years but would very much like to reconnect with again. I've missed her carefree spirit, unsurpassable common sense (I have none), and hearty laugh ;). She is now the mother of the most well-behaved baby I know. We're all so grown up...sniff sniff.
The most memorable meal was at Wisteria - Grilled coriander crusted salmon with baby friseé, granny smith apples, curry candied pistachios, farm egg...yum!
The most exciting place was the dduk (rice cake) cafe. Here you can pick from a wide selection of various flavored dduks, including sweet potato, date, pumpkin, red bean, and mungbean, to name a few. I seriously thought I was in heaven. I'm notorious for being a "dduk killer."
And yes, I got a new hairdo which entailed chopping off quite a bit of my hair. I'm ready to face the suffocating Texas heat... just not the mirror. It will take some time to get used to.
Goodbyes are always hard, but I know this one's not forever. So I dragged my suitcase once more to return home to my Hungryman.
TheDessertEngineer says
I just joined BlogHer, and stumbled upon your blog. What a coincidence, I also went to Emory (graduated in 2001). Looking forward to following your beautiful blog.
Min says
Hi!! It's so nice to connect with a fellow alumni! The Complex, DUC, Dooley...I miss it all...I look forward to following your blog as well 😉
Wendy says
There is something magic about best friends from college. They have a place in your heart very close to family, probably because we live with them 24/7 for four years and because they experience the ups and downs of college life along with you. My college roommate/best friend and I are still dear friends 35 years later!! We live in different cities and our lives have taken some very different paths but our shared history binds us together. How wonderful that you were able to spend the weekend with Janet and revisit some fond memories! Also, what a relief that most of your photos were saved!! Computers are amazing creations but its scary how much can be lost when they fail!
Min says
Dear Wendy, thank you so much for your lovely comment. I couldn't agree more. The distance doesn't seem to matter when it comes to true friendships. We may go months without talking to each other, but we always seem to pick up right where we left off. 35 years of friendship? The very thought warms my heart!
And yes, I went from hysteria to exhilaration in a split second. I need a better back-up plan.
Kari @ bite-sized thoughts says
What a fun trip - and also a nostalgic one! Thanks for letting us share in your memories and weekend away. I always get a little sad thinking back to study days, even though I also appreciate the freedom and flexibility of adulthood (and an income!) now. It's great you have kept in touch with your close friends. Also, I am so sorry about your hard drive crashing!! What a stress!! I am glad to read your comment above suggesting Tim got most of your photos back 🙂
Ellie@Fit for the soul says
Oh mannnn! I know how frustrating it is to lose hard-earned photos!!! Unnie, just remember that even though it's super upsetting, the end of something MUST mean the beginning of something more beautiful--aka, better and more wonderful pictures 😉
And it's sooo awesome that you have a friend like that. Friendships like that are so so rare nowadays! Also, you look amazing with that hair. I don't look good with chopped off hair although I utterly wish I did, haha
Min says
Hehe. Thanks, Ellie for always reminding me to think positive! I'm not feeling so devastated now bc Tim actually recovered most of the photos! When he presented me with the CD, I nearly died haha. Love that man ;).
Yup..the older I get, the more I appreciate genuine friendships...Thank you for the compliment (blush). I def needed a change after having the same hairstyle for over 3 years.
felicia | Dish by Dish says
Hello Min! So many things I wanted to say when I was reading this post -
But first, I'm sending you a BIG HUG cos I know how devastating losing an external hard disk drive worth of photos must be. So so sorry to hear that!
And it was so nice to get into a peak of your freshman years and your friend Janet. She sounds like an amazing friend and I'm so glad you guys got the chance to meet up again 🙂
Plus! I love the new hair-do! So don't be shy with the mirror (or camera!)
Loved how you're so authentic and say everything you feel .. it's something that I still struggle with sometimes because I'm always wondering what the reader/other person will think. But I'm working on that!
Love you dear friend!
F.
Min says
Thanks, Felicia. I do have an awesome news to share with you though. Apparently Tim was hard at work behind my back and worked his magic bc this morning, he surprised me with a CD of all the recovered photos!!! Or most of them anyway. He's a keeper ;).
It certainly was great reconnecting with Janet..it was as if we never missed a beat. As for my hair, I can only hope that it will grow on me soon. I'm sure it will over time.
You know, I have that same problem as well! That's why I didn't tell any of my personal friends about this blog. The last thing I want to do is become self-consious and filter my words.
Eventually, I will tell them..just not now 😉
Love you too!
dixya| food, pleasure, and health says
you look adorable in your new hairdo 🙂 I miss college days and its always so nostalgic to revisit college. Im glad you had a wonderful time 🙂
Min says
Aww thanks, Dixya :). I miss those good ole' days terribly...If we could only turn back the time...I would do so many things differently.