You Got Served

Yesterday a man uttered under his breath that all the 'good food' cost too much. I asked him if he wanted a minute to look over the menu. He rejected my offer and proceeded to order a Ribs, Wings, and Shrimp Platter, add two trips to the salad bar and purchase a Spring Roll appetizer all for himself. His companion bought a salad...

A Day With My Car

I drove my car for the first time in over a month and multiple people have asked me to share about my return to the open road. I used my car to take Kaytlin to work while the mechanic worked on her car and that trip prevented me from catching the bus to work myself. Riding the bus from Kaytlin’s work to Ruby Tuesday takes over two hours and I did not have that much time before my shift. In retrospect, I suppose that feasible options existed to avoid having taken my car to work yesterday morning, but they escaped me in the moment and the my return to the driver’s seat offered interesting insight into my “carless” experience.
The most impactful moment of the drive to work own occurred when I passed by my house. About halfway between Starbucks and Ruby Tuesday I turned onto Elmwood Street and could see my house from the road. Seeing my house offered a reference point for my travels and I felt shocked that I had completed a ten-minute drive. That same trip would have taken over an hour by foot or 30 minutes on the bus. In some strange way, I felt as if I had missed the city speeding through it. I had driven into the heart of the city but somehow missed experiencing the it. My car insulated me from the world outside and although I saved 20 minutes by driving my car instead of taking the bus, those minutes lacked the richness of alternative travel.
Life without a car inhibits much efficiency that my American lifestyle desires, but I think that efficiency may inhibit my life experiences. I engage the world more fully when I have to stand in the rain, or snow, or sun, and endure the heat, or the cold. Living without a car takes community and providential, or at least strategic, living arrangements, but I relish the struggle that comes with making my life work without using personal transportation. I spend more time with my roommates and fiancé because we walk to McDonald’s or ride our bikes to the library instead of zipping straight there in our cars. I hope that using my car over the next few days instills gratefulness in my heart for the many similar conveniences in my life. None-the-less, I look forward to living as a pedestrian again sooner than later.

"You Got Served"

When customers treat and tip a server well, servers become inspired to serve successive guests even better. I know. I experienced this phenomenon today.

South Carolina on My Mind

Yesterday I experienced a cultural epiphany. In a discussion about politics, I thought to myself “the State Government should have the power to stand against the Federal Government when the Federal Government oversteps its bounds”. Nothing like this has ever crossed my mind before and I realized my immersion in South Carolinian culture caused it.

I need to process the thought more deeply before I determine its legitimacy, but experiencing this sentiment allowed me to glimpse into the Southern mind in a new way. For the first time I somewhat understood the foundation for South Carolinian state pride. Most Americans are proud of their freedom to do what they want to do. Southerners root their pride in the freedom to reject what others tell them to do. As a result of this perspective, Southerners allow themselves to overlook the blemishes of their culture, insofar as those dark spots exist as a byproduct of supporting the distinctive breed of freedom; the superior value.

"You Got Served"

A business woman who has climbed the corporate latter will tip less than a man in her same position. I do not know why.

Birthday Thank You's

“Thank you” to everyone who shared my weekend with me. Amidst the myriad of events and people my birthday party only contributed to a rich weekend. In spite of the minor aspect my birthday played, I felt terribly loved by all my friends here in Columbia. The bonfire/hangout on Saturday night eclipsed all other birthday celebrations within the recent past and hosted more people than any birthday event in my life.
Kaytlin took the lead in making me feel loved by throwing together the party, making me a birthday breakfast, spending the afternoon with me, getting creative and thought-out gifts. My family back home blew me away with the gifts they sent me. I still feel taken aback by the investment made in my birthday even thought they could not share with me personally. Sorry that I did not call you back on my birthday Kyle…I failed on that one, but really enjoyed talking to you on Sunday. Thank you to Mark and Nina who loved me from the great white north. Thank you to everyone who came to see me on Saturday or sent me birthday wishes-especially my housemates and lifies. I love you all a lot.

Another find from a friend

When doing your Christmas cards, take one and send it to this address: A Recovering American Soldier c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center 6900 Georgia Avenue NW; Washington, D.C. 20307. If we pass this on, think of how many cards these wonderful special people would get. Pass it on...just copy and paste.