North Carolina... you're not much different from Virginia, but you're not the same either. I only had a two and a half hour drive down to Mooresville, NC to visit my friend Annalee (who had recently moved down from Wisconsin). The trip was relatively easy, considering I had a gps with me. Oh you'd think it'd be smooth sailing but it took me a grand total of five minutes to get lost. I should also note that I was only about 5 miles from my house. I'm horrible at direction, and I know it. Geography is lost on me. I also had my "arrival time" wrong, so when I told Annalee I was about an hour away, I was really 10 minutes from her house. I've never been to Mooresville before so it was interesting when I tried to drive us around. She took the wheel after our first outing.
I arrived on a Thursday afternoon, and it was raining. For anyone that doesn't know Annalee, she doesn't stay inside much, so this was a bit of a bummer. But if we couldn't be outside, we'd thrift shop (another one of Annalee's specialties). I got a sweet gold mirror out of it and Annalee was able to take countless pictures of things she wanted. Dinner was homemade thai and take-out sushi from one of best places around. I met Annalee's boyfriend (Andrew) for the first time that night and now I'm basically waiting for the wedding, because he was spectacular, and I wouldn't want anyone else for her. I love it when that happens. Absolutely love it.
The next morning I woke up to Eugene (Annalee's sister Megan's dog) half on top of me with a ball in his mouth. Wasn't unusual though... Eugene is rarely spotted without a ball in his mouth. Let's just be clear, this dog naps with his ball in his mouth! He was so weird, we clicked instantly. But back to Eugene waking me up... Annalee was close behind and before I know it there's a photograph in my hand and all she says is, "Thought you might like this." It was a photograph she had taken of Seattle's space needle while on her trip out west with Andrew. For anyone who doesn't know me, I love Seattle. Never been, but I constantly look it up and live vicariously through various people that DO live in Seattle. It's a problem that won't go away until I visit there, and even then I may or may not be cured. But until that day comes, I get along just fine with what I've got, and that day, we hit up a trail that surrounded Lake Norman. The sky threatened rain but it held back and I loved every second of that hike. In
all the hustle and bustle of our world, I feel like (for me) time stops when
I’m in the woods. I think of nothing else. It’s like a small slice of heaven
just to put things into perspective. I LOVE the woods!
That
night Annalee had to work a quick shift at the bakery but I stuck around to
have dinner and a dessert. Ok, make that two desserts. Her sister, Megan,
joined me and we talked about Eugene’s polar plunge into the lake on our hike
and how I think him to be a genius dog. He is SO smart. She’s such a good mom
to him, I wouldn’t dare steal him away (?) Later, after Annalee’s shift ended,
we headed home for a movie night and more dessert. I’m not apologizing. I like
dessert.
So
I’ve unintentionally brought you through pretty much my entire visit. It happens.
But one reason why I love photography, and will always love it, is because it
can say things I can’t. So, here’s the story… again :)
It was fun, to say the least.
