This weekend was what I always thought it would be like to be grown up. Truly. When I was younger thinking about what being an adult would encompass, what me as an adult would do, I thought every day would be like this weekend. Fabulous and full. Creative and energizing. Dizzying and fun. I envisioned myself attending swanky events and hobnobbing with famous people. I knew I would be creative and reading and taking classes forever. As a kid, I could have never imagined the minutia that makes up a lot of life. I wouldn’t have predicted home maintenance, and visits to the gym and the amount of time I spend going laundry. In my mind, every day would be like a holiday. This weekend was pretty close to that.On Friday we celebrated my brother-in-law’s birthday. It was all of my siblings and their significant others, as well as my niece. A good time to hang out with everyone.
Saturday morning I went on all sorts of errands. Normally I hate running around town to check things off my list. Right now I’m in the middle of several art projects and an art class and most of the stops were to get supplies. That made things more fun! I’m especially excited about a letterpress class I’m taking.
Then I went to the library and met an author I really like. I can’t go into more detail than that for now because I had him sign a book for me and I want to use it as a gift. But I will tell you this. Not only did I get to talk to him, he also retweeted me and now follows me on Twitter.
Then I finished a book called Seating Arrangements by Maggie Shipstead and thank goodness because I hated the characters in that book so much and am happy to be done with them.
Then I got gussied up and went to the International Freedom Conductor Award Gala, which was sponsored by the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. Wonder Boy wore a tux and I got to wear a dress I got for a steal – originally $250 and I spent $25.
There were two winners of the International Freedom Center Conductor Award: Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth and Nicholas Kristof. Kristof co-authored Half the Sky, which I totally adore. The other author of the book was his wife, Sheryl Wu Dunn. At one point last night I went to the bathroom and on my way out passed Wu Dunn. It didn’t register quickly enough with me who she was but I knew she looked familiar and smiled at her. She smiled back and a few steps later I realized I had missed my opportunity to say thanks for helping with such an awesome book. But, she totally smiled at me so I will take it. (Wonder Boy used a urinal next to Kristof but didn’t say hello because of boy bathroom code. Bathrooms = miss opportunities for us.)
The gala went by very quickly and I was a little disappointed not to hear more from Kristof, what he did say was powerful.
When asked why he is able to keep doing what he does, seeing so many atrocities, Kristof said, “Side by side with the worst of humanity you invariably find the best.” I love that.
Later he shared the story of a Sudanese woman who was brutally raped by eight men and then beaten. When talking with her, he kept pushing her to make sure she understood and was okay with him sharing her story in the New York Times, concerned of her facing ramifications for that. Her response, “Telling my story is the only tool I have to fight back.” That just gives me chills. It reminds me why journalism is important and why I wanted to go into writing when I was 18.
Today I slept in and then made homemade pancakes. I finished an art project and then Wonder Boy and I went to two open houses. I posted two new items on Etsy. Afterwards I visited a friend and we drank wine, talked and looked at photography.
Tonight Wonder Boy and I watch Searching for Sugarman, about Sixto Rodriguez. The movie was really great, which is fitting since it was highlighting such an amazing musician.
It’s been an exhausting weekend but filled with so many good things I don’t really feel tired. Just content. If all weekends were like this, like childhood me imagined, that would be all right.
