People leave. They work their butt off for four years, get all the undergraduate knowledge they need, master it, get a piece of paper with the school stamp called diploma, wear cap and gown, walk in the aisle waiting to be called to walk across the stage, take few pictures ... and leave. Some people, without doing all that graduation thingy, just leave with their own reason, story, and excuse.
The semester is over now. I said goodbye to friends that are leaving. and I said "have a good summer and see you in the fall!" to friends that are coming back to Harding in August. To some friends that are leaving, I didn't even get to say goodbye and wish them my sweet asian good luck for life.
I have three sets of parents-biological ones in Korea, American ones that have been hosting me for four stinkin' years, and another American set of parents that have always been there for me ever since we had an encounter through motorcycle five years ago. His name is George McDonald and his wife's is Linetta McDonald. Long story short, we met at church in North Little Rock when I was an exchange student five years and ever since the moment I accepted the offer to ride on his Harley Davidson motorcycle, we have been friends and family. We have memories and stories to talk and laugh about. I sometimes go visit him. Well, actually, he comes to get me. So this weekend, I went to their house and spend a night there. When I went on Friday, Mr. George and I went hiking to Pinnacle mountain. Wanted to get to the very top of it all but the time didn't work out. It was still a good, refreshing, endorphine-producing hike. Then we had meatloaf Mrs. Linetta made-it was extremely juicy and delicious. (I think I'm gonna try to make meatloaf when I get back and have kitchen in my dorm) Then Mr. George gave me a ride on his bike. The weather got cooler but the sun was setting and all so it was such a perfect time to finish the day. Got back and had some dessert-molten chocolate cake with vanilla icecrea, YUM! and then woke up on Saturday, had orange danish rolls for breakfast-also YUM! and then went walking on the big dam bridge in Little Rock. The wind was ... intense. But because it was so intense, I felt all the stress, grudges, frustrations, anger, and toxin just blown out of my mind. I felt my body, mind, and soul just clearing up. So refreshing. So invigorating. Then went hiking to a short trail in Emerald Park. It was a short and sweet trail that got me started for the day. and then we went riding on the bike for a little bit to go see a little bike expo and swing by the Academy to look at athletic shoes. (I love running and training shoes!) And then the time for me go home came. We stopped by Uncle Dean's Catfish place in Cabot. The owner lady is Korean so we talked in Korean for a few minutes. Their catfish is the best I've ever tasted. They are so fresh and good. I actually feel like I am eating catfish, not some mysterious deep-fried, fattening stuff. Before they took me home, we had to stop by strawberry farm to get some strawberries for this lady at their church. When we got out of the car, the tangy, fresh, sweet, and juicy smell of stawberries just penetrated my nose. It was phenomenal. I've never had the smell of a fruit that thrilled me so much. haha It was such a nice, relaxing vacation I had after the semester and before I start the terrifying, nerve-racking intersession. Now I am ready to kill physiological psychology!
Mrs. Baxter is 103 years old lady who is one of the very first alumni at Harding when Harding was in Morrilton, AR. Thanks to the bible project, I started volunteering for her. She has 24-hr caregiver, Mrs. Stinger, but I still wanted to go visit, talk, help with whatever, and just show that I care. I visited maybe three or four times. Then the dead week came and finals engulfed me. and the day I was done with the finals I went to her house. There was a car parked but no one answered the door so I just left a note thinking Mrs. Stinger may be bathing Mrs. Baxter or something. then I got this wierd, unpleasant vibe when I was walking back. Then I asked the admissions office at harding and they told me Mrs. Baxter had passed away. It was expected because she was extremely old. But it was still sad. She was just gone.. like silent breeze. and the thought that I did not visit for a long time just broke my heart. I should have visited her. Was it that I didn't care? or what? I was busy but is that a justifiable excuse? What kind of person am I? and then a thought linked to another thought. To the thought of "what if that will be like me and my mom? what if she eventually goes blind, her health deteriorates, and has no one, and I am here not taking care of my own mother?" It scared the heck out of me. I started balling in the heritage lobby. (kinda silly. haha) Mrs. Baxter left. She made me rethink of life. Left me with no conclusion. Haha. I just pray that I will see her in heaven.
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