For What it’s worth: a quick update

The drive to LA was alright.  The traffic is bad and the streets kind of stress me out.  I’ve already been honked at for changing lanes when there was a car in my blind spot, Sorry Guy, my dresses are hung up by the door so I can’t see a thing… and Chill out, gosh.  My mom told me stories about her parents and told me that she was going to miss me “giving the look” when someone in the family said something stupid.  I’m kind of famous for that.  All in good humor though, got to keep the family in check.   You can’t just ask thoughtless questions you already know the answer to! Well, actually you can; and I probably do it all the time.  But I can still call people out on it!!!

We got to LA Dia was just getting back from some “stuff” she had been up to all day.  So nice seeing her.  Whenever I see her, I always realize how much I missed her and needed to see her face for my own well-being.  And here’s where the “magic” and “love” is.  As soon as I make that realization of having to need to see her, I can see it in her eyes that she feels the same about seeing me.  The feeling is mutual, and that makes me feel at ease.  There are a few people in my life that I cared deeply about.  Whenever I saw them, my heart warmed.  When I looked into their eyes however, they seemed indifferent.  I always felt bewildered, straining to make my company with them worth while.  Of course we know when you’re worried about being entertaining and fun, you usually fail.  And of course when you know that the probably of failing is more than fifty percent (which in this case it is)  then Jade Frampton is definitely going to be failing.  (Plus, I just like saying “Fail” after I do not “Win”.  It’s too funny to me).

Anyway, Dia took us out for Italian and some awesome ice cream.  Driving through traffic, I was sitting in the back seat.  My little round nose was pretty much pressed to the window glass.  I saw girls with crazy hair cuts and styles.  I saw boys wearing adorable outfits that were so well put together I started to doubt my own wardrobe and abilities to strap on matching pieces of material.  I quietly locked the doors when we passed through some darker streets with people laying on the ground or laying back in dirty old grocery carts.  I smiled at them, trying to cheer them up.  But then, I admit, I got scared and looked away.  Despite my traveling, I’m a small town girl.  I don’t know how to comfort those unfortunate people in the city.  We passed a man with tattoos that covered his whole face.  I didn’t even know what the tattoos were of, I was too busy trying to find his eyes and nose through all of the ink.

We eventually found parking.  My mother and Dia got out of the car, and I stayed in for a second.  I realized my hand was shaking. I realized I was nervous.  I was anxious. I was excited.  I had talked so much about California.  I had gone through so much to get here.  Just having to break it to my coach that I wanted to transfer and ask for permission to talk to other schools was a head ache.  And here I was.  I got what I wanted.  Was this what I wanted?  Was it all that I dreamed it to be?  Was the grass really greener?  Was I about to be bitterly disappointed?  And was I really asking all of these questions when I was still 6 hours away from my final destination for the year?  My hand began shaking even more violently and I did the only thing I could to open the door so as not to keep Dia and Mom waiting: I took a deep breath and sprung spontaneously out of the car.  When I get nervous or afraid of something…I have to do it right then and there.  If I hadn’t literally jumped out of the car, I might have jumped into the driver’s seat and drove all the way home with my selfish fears forgetting my sister and mother on the curve.

But once we were on the sidewalk walking, I suddenly wasn’t scared anymore.  A little boy driving a little plastic car was on the side-walk of a busy street.  Funny, I used to do that, but in the safety of my own neighborhood and driveway.  A girl with white-blonde hair cut like a boy walked passed me in a floral dress with cowboy boots.  A young man with thick rimmed glasses and a bow tie crossed the street.  A woman wearing practically nothing with large fish-net leggings stood under a stop sign.  I looked down a my green flowy dress and lacey Toms.  I smiled.  In Arkansas I felt like a blinking light in dark room.  Here, I felt that I fit in okay.  I like being different, don’t get me wrong…But at least I feel like the variety was more appreciated here.  I felt like I would wear something amazing (yes amazing) last year and no one appreciated my “outward expressions”.  Oh well. Here I was.

The waiter at the restaurant was friendly and fast.  I did love the Southern Hospitality in Arkansas, but they were SO SLOW sometimes.  It was different in California. My impatient monster that lived inside me was at home here.  The ice cream place was great.  The boy who worked there was energetic and happy.  He made me feel like I was doing him a flavor by sampling nearly every flavor he had before I decided on Cheddar Cheese Melon.  “Cheddar Cheese Melon?” you ask…?  Well so did I! And the nice boy waiting on me gave me a whole scoop of it.  *wink*

We drove back to the apartment where Carlo was waiting for us.  Can I tell you how awesome he is? No, it’s not possible because he is that awesome.  He’s such an upbeat guy who’s always smiling.  He is so polite and gentleman-like it’s crazy.  I don’t think he’s capable of being rude because opening the door for you “slipped his mind” or he just “wasn’t thinking”.  It must just be ingrained into his mind.  Anyway, if you haven’t guessed, any member of Meg and Dia is like family to me.  Nick, Jonathan, and Carlo are great people and I’m so glad to know them the way that I do.  Especially when I lack brothers in my family.  As you can imagine, they are welcome anytime.  I love asking them questions about love, relationships, girl, and guys because I never get to hear it from an “older brother” perspective.  It’s one thing to ask your guy friends about something, and it’s another to ask your older brother about something…if you know what I mean!

I sat on the couch, watching Dia get organized with her things.  She literally just moved in.  I texted my best friend Katie: I don’t mean to get ahead of myself.  But I think I’m going to love going to school in California.  I sent Willie a picture from my phone with the green hills and sunset. He admitted he was jealous.  He always tries to make UNLV sound good, rubbing it in that I’m not there.  I guess we were both a little bummed that we didn’t get to go to school together, but at the same time…we both knew I’d be happier with my choice.  Tough decisions… But I think I made the right one.

And GEE WIZ that was just the first night in LA.  I have a few more to go.  Then I’ve got the real jungle: San Francisco… And SMC.  Oh golly gosh.  I’m starting to sound like I’m from Utah, but darn’t, I’m too stoked on life to care.  Anyway, I thought I’d get this blog out to you because 1. I don’t know when I’m going to have enough time to write another one. 2. Because I wanted to write about my first impression of LA while it was still fresh in my mind. 3.  Your comments on my last blog about the 99 subscribers were so comforting, supporting, encouraging, and inspiring…it made me want to write you a whole novel and give it to you today.  Unfortunately, this will have to do.

Well as it once was said… Be Careful. Have Fun. I love you!

-Jade

P.S.  The weather is amazing… Okay, I was freezing when the sun went down…but that’s because I left my cardigan in the car!  So excited to not be dripping sweat by the time I get from my car to my house. Awesome!