Despite canceled flights, stalled trucks, broken wakeboards, and mid-afternoon thunderstorms we made it to New Orleans! On Thursday night Carla and Julie arrived, not easily but never-the less arrived. Julie arrived first and while waiting for Carla's flight to get in we had a delicious dinner at the Bartholomew's house. We started the adventure on Friday with some doubles tennis at the JCA (a local Jewish version of a YMCA. By Jewish I simply mean strange Saturday hours and closed on every Jewish holiday even if we don't know what it is). I am not happy to say that team Phillips-Chow handed it to the Blums. I guess I deserve it for making them take a facility tour and pretend to be prospective members so that I wouldn't have to pay the $30 guest fee. I know what you are thinking.... how fitting at the Jewish Community Alliance. Yup. So after the butt kicking we went to Rib Shack, ate too much, drank too much sweet tea and then proceeded to load up the kayaks and the jet ski. As we fire up the truck, with two kayaks on top and a jet ski hitched to the back, the truck starts and stalls, starts and stalls, starts and stalls. We finally got it in gear and went for it despite the potential problems. The truck could have easily stalled while on the boat ramp and rolled right into the river or been stuck on the ramp for hours waiting for a tow truck. Luckily nothing of the sort happened. My brother and I kayaked out the creek to river while Julie and Carla took the jet ski. I trusted them even though neither of them had been on a jet ski before and neither of them were wearing their glasses. Usually we can go wakeboarding or watersking but of course I failed to fix the wakeboard that slightly but significantly broke a couple summers ago while I was teaching my teammate, Kate, how to wakeboard. Julie suggested we take a boogie board (those foam boards you take to the beach) and try to ride behind the jet ski on our knees. That was so much fun! All three of us eventually figured out how to get from our bellies to our knees and in no time we were flying. We were having a good time on the river for maybe 10 minutes and then the thunder started. We kayaked/rode all the way back to the dock (about a 15 minute ride) and found shelter while the storm raged for 20 minutes. Then we went back out. This time however, the river was not nearly as smooth as before but at least the sun was shining and the storm had passed.
That night we went to the beach where we stayed at Mr. Walton's beach house, watched some "finding big foot" and got up early to enjoy the beach on Saturday morning/afternoon before heading home to help my family throw a graduation party that evening.
The Party
My family threw us a graduation celebration on Saturday night. My dad decided to invite most of Jacksonville and I have to admit that I was guilty of inviting everyone I ran into as well. Many of my neighbors, old teachers, family friends, old coaches, and high school classmates came and it was a great time. It was especially fun to show Carla and Julie my pre-Princeton world. Even though what seemed like a lot of people were there, a lot of them did not eat. We had so much food left over! There was probably enough for a couple more cookouts so I started giving watermelons to my friends as party favors and we even brought some with us to New Orleans.
While at college, especially the last two years, it became really easy to get caught up in the moment and get stuck in Princeton's "orange bubble" so much so that I forgot about the supportive community that I had growing up and that I still have regardless of where I am living. I am glad my family threw this little celebration. It reminded me of the past and ignited excitement for the future.
Now the adventure starts in New Orleans....
-Rachel
P.S. I admit... I teared up when I left home.
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