Someone Like You

Adele is always stealing my material.  I love this song, and have been listening to it on repeat for the better part of the day.  I'm in the mood to listen to sad love songs and drink some hot chocolate while wrapped up in a blanket and stare out at the gloomy, overcast sky that somehow always seems to match how I'm feeling.  But I gave up chocolate for Lent and have two lab reports to write, so I press pause, open my book and carry on.

I heard that you're settled down 

That you found a girl and you're married now

I heard that you're dreams came true

Guess she gave you things I didn't give to you

Old friend, why are you so shy?

It ain't like you to hold back or hide from the light

I hate to turn up out of the blue, uninvited

But I couldn't stay away, I couldn't fight it

I'd hoped you'd see my face and that you'd be reminded

 That for me, it isn't over

Never mind,  I'll find someone like you

I wish nothing but the best for you two

Don't forget me, I beg

I remember you said:

"Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead"

You know how the time flies

Only yesterday was the time of our lives

We were born and raised in a summery haze

Bound by the surprise of our glory days

I hate to turn up out of the blue, uninvited

But I couldn't stay away, I couldn't fight it

I'd hoped you'd see my face and that you'd be reminded

 That for me, it isn't over

Never mind I'll find someone new

I wish nothing but the best for you two

Don't forget me, I beg

I remember you said:

"Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead"

Nothing compares 

No worries or cares

Regrets and mistakes 

They are memories made

Who would have known how bittersweet this would taste

Never mind I'll find someone like you

I wish nothing but the best for you two

Don't forget me, I beg

I remember you said:

"Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead"

Never mind I'll find someone like you

I wish nothing but the best for you two 

Don't forget me, I beg

I remember you said:

"Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead"

 Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead

A Friendship Like Ours

            Once upon a time, in a land not in Asia but in the Pacific Islands region (unless, of course, it was OK to be called Asia that particular day), a beautiful baby girl named Natalia was born.  And this little baby was no ordinary baby for she had special powers…powers that she would not know of until much later.

            At around this same time, in a land across the sea, another little girl named Katherine was preparing for her first Christmas.  Well, she wasn’t really on account of her being only months old, but boy, were here parents excited.

            Little did these two girls know just what JACK had in store for them.  But, then again, maybe somewhere deep down inside they did, because when their worlds collided, it felt like they had always known each other.

            Fast forward fourteen years or so and Natalia had grown into a beautiful young lady and had moved across the sea.  Katherine, while not as beautiful, had also grown.  While not knowing each other at the time, they both headed off to Alletak High School to begin a new chapter in their lives.

            While Natalia may argue with Katherine over when they first really met, as Natalia claims to have said several hello’s and how’s it going’s to Katherine, but it wasn’t until Katherine’s junior year that they began to really talk.  For Katherine was a shy girl and didn’t really open up easily to Natalia’s friendly advances.

            But during that volleyball offseason, something amazing happened that the world probably wasn’t prepared for: Natalia and Katherine became friends. But it wasn’t all rainbows and sunshine in the beginning.  Katherine still remembers that traumatic day when she rang up Natalia to relay some important volleyball information and Natalia replied, “Katherine who?”

            But after Katherine had established who she was and Natalia was able to put a face with the name, their relationship really took off.

            It was around this time that Katherine became aware of Natalia’s special powers.  Natalia was able to make Katherine laugh until she couldn’t breathe, make her comfortable with sharing feelings that would otherwise go unsaid, and make her feel important and special.  In short, Natalia filled the empty space in Katherine’s heart that Katherine hadn’t even known was there.

            They took the world by storm with their plethora of inside jokes and complete disregard for how crazy they looked when they were out in public together.  They helped each other deal with silly boy problems and provided shoulders to cry on when life got too heavy.  They were unstoppable.

            But then it came time for Katherine to go on to college and leave Natalia.  It was both an exciting and sad time for Katherine.  She was scared that she would lose the closeness of her and Natalia’s friendship.  As time went on though, Katherine realized how silly she was for thinking that only one hundred miles could even come close to messing with their relationship.  Although they didn’t get to see each other as often, when they did, it was as if Katherine had never left.

            Then it was time for Natalia to go join Katherine at college and JACK wouldn’t have it any other way.  Katherine was beyond ecstatic to be able to experience college with her best friend.  That fall quarter they spent together was one of the best times in Katherine’s life.

            It came to a screeching halt one day when Natalia quietly stated that she wouldn’t be enrolling for the next quarter.  Katherine, in that moment, became very selfish and couldn’t understand why Natalia would do this to her.  But she quickly realized that Natalia wasn’t doing this to hurt Katherine, but because it was what she needed to do.  Katherine, although sad, saw Natalia off with her full support.

            This new development did not phase their relationship.  In fact, it was almost as if Natalia never left since she was always coming down for weekends filled with dancing, birthdays, and goofing off.  Natalia continued to use her special powers and keen insight to save Katherine from a college-life crisis (similar to a mid-life crisis).  Katherine tried to reciprocate these powers whenever Natalia needed them.

            As they continued along the path of life, they soon found themselves graduating and moving into the big, bad world full of work and responsibility.  As always, Katherine was a bit scared, but Natalia was right by her side as they took the plunge into adulthood.

            Years came and went,  Natalia and Katherine had their ups and downs, and families of their own.  Katherine took Natalia’s daughter and her own shopping and taught them all she knew about bargain hunting and the latest trends.  Meanwhile, Natalia coached their sons’ basketball team because that is what they agreed upon way back when they were in high school.

            And as Natalia and Katherine sat on the porch of their summer lake house and watched their grandchildren play in the water, Natalia turned to Katherine and asked, “Do you even remember how this all started?”

            Katherine simply smiled and pull out an old, beat up little notebook and replied, “Let me tell you…”

Someone Like You WOULD Find Me Unfunny

This is dedicated to Chelsey (and her couch). Please sing this parody out loud to the tune of Our House by Madness

Katie wears her Sunday best

He’s coming over, she’s so stressed

Richard’s alarm’s playing down upstairs

Yu-Chun's sighing in her sleep

Asami's got a date to keep

She can't hang around

Chelsey’s couch, in the middle of the room

Chelsey’s couch, in the middle of the ...

Chelsey’s couch, it has a crowd

There's always something happening

And it's usually quite loud

Chelsey, she's so couch-proud

Nothing ever slows her down

And a kiss is not allowed

Chelsey’s couch, in the middle of the room

Chelsey’s couch, in the middle of the ...

Chelsey’s couch, in the middle of the room

Chelsey’s couch, in the middle of the ...

(Something tells her that she’s got to get away from it)

Chelsey comes back late from Jo’s

That means it’s time for him to go

Katie sends him off on his way

Sees him off with a small kiss

She's the one he’s going to miss

In lots of ways

Chelsey’s couch, in the middle of the room

Chelsey’s couch, in the middle of the ...

I remember way back then when everything was true and when

We would have such a very good time such a fine time

Such a happy time

And I remember how we'd play, simply sit on Chelsey’s couch

Then we'd say nothing would come between us two dreamers

Sarah wants in on the action

It gives her much satisfaction

The A-Team is scheming up Plan B

Katie's sighing in her sleep

He has got a flight to keep

He can't hang around

Chelsey’s couch, in the middle of the room

Chelsey’s couch, in the middle of the room

Chelsey’s couch, in the middle of the room

Chelsey’s couch, in the middle of the ...

Chelsey’s couch, was our castle and our bliss

Chelsey’s couch, in the middle of the room

Chelsey’s couch, that was where we used to kiss

Chelsey’s couch, in the middle of the room

Chelsey’s couch, in the middle of the room

A Certain Someone Like You

    I've never liked romantic, mushy-gushy relationships.  They're complicated, messy, and usually wind up making you crazy.  But not all crazy is bad.  Just ask Beyonce; she'll tell you she's crazy in love.  Maybe that's how relationships are supposed to be: a healthy mix of crazy and love. I'm certainly not an expert in love, though I have been told numerous times that I can be a bit crazy.  So, it looks like I'm halfway there to a successful relationship.  Well, I guess technically less than halfway, on account of not having someone to be in a relationship with.  Let's just say I've got the crazy part covered.
   It's not like I try to avoid relationships, or am against them.  It's safe to say I don't have a ton of guys lining up to be with me.  But I don't mind, I'm secure enough to believe that there's at least one guy out of the 3.4 billion* that roam this planet that is willing to be with me. 
  Which leads me to the meat of this blog.  I did meet a certain someone out of that 3.4 billion pool of potential mates, PPM for short (it's a real scientific and sociological term used by experts**).  And therein lies the problem.  This certain someone just happened to be from a country scagillions of miles away and was only here for a quarter. Plus, I didn't even meet him until much later into the quarter, combined with the fact that we didn't even start "seeing each other" (or whatever the cool, hip phrase is nowadays) until a week or so before he was supposed to go back home.  I definitely know how to pick 'em. 
   I tried to talk myself out of liking him for the very reasons I just mentioned, but that's what annoys me with feelings: you can't really control them.  So there I was, falling for someone I knew that I could possibly never see again.  I guess  I know that what bothers me the most about these situations is being vulnerable; putting my feelings out there, knowing there's always that risk that those feelings won't be reciprocated.  But that's something I've been working on, letting people know how I'm really feeling.  It's  just even more difficult when those feelings involve a boy.
   It's been about a month since he's left.  So why are you writing about this now, one may ask.  Great question, one!  The reason being, I can't shake these feelings for this certain someone.  It's really been a struggle between my head and my heart.  My brain keeps telling me to get over it.  Typical questions/comment from my brain include, but are not limited to:

"How could this relationship ever possibly work out?" 

                   "You don't have the money to go visit. And even if you did, do you really think a visit or two a year constitutes a relationship?"

"You need to get over him.  He has his life over there, you have yours here."

"Does he even feel the same about you?"

Now, I know what you're thinking: that brain of yours is a total buzz kill!  Tell me about it!  I'm the one stuck with it.  My heart faces a tough opponent, but it  tries to fight back with such words of encouragement like:

"Remember what the great Justin Bieber once said, 'Never say never'"

                    "Just let things happen naturally, whether it be the outcome you wanted or not.  But don't worry about it."

                     "If it's meant to be, it's meant to be."

"Maybe you two are destined to have a Desmond/Penny relationship."

Thanks, Heart, you know just how to cheer me up.

   The bottom line, regardless of what my brain or heart says, is I miss him.  And to put it eloquently, it sucks.  Oh, Life!  The one time I find a guy I really like, you just have to take him away.  I don't want to make this a pity party blog, but I guess, in a way, it is. Sorry for that, it feels good to put all this down on paper (I originally wrote this all out, because I'm old school like that).

    However this chapter in my life ends (or begins? -Heart), I'll look back on it and smile.  We had some good times (and many more to come... Ok, really, Heart, stop it!).  Like the saying goes, it is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.***  Well, the next level or so down from love, let's not get carried away.  But you get the point.

    So regardless if  I ever see him again, whether or not we were meant to be, or if I wait eight years for a phone call from him (LOST reference), I'm thankful he was a part of my life.

“Got me looking so crazy, my baby

I’m not myself, lately I’m foolish, I don’t do this

I’ve been playing myself, baby, I don’t care

‘Cause your love’s got the best of me”

*This stat was found from a random website, so there could really be 5 billion guys in the world or 500. I guess we'll never know.

**PPM is, in fact, an entirely made up acronym.  But it's pretty awesome, so just go with it.

***In Memoriam by Tennyson