...day. It really was. After waking up much earlier than hoped or intended, I scooted off to Livonia. I had no trouble finding the SOS office, and had just one minor near-incident in the parking lot (white cars shouldn't exist in Michigan...that's all I'm saying). I was in and out in 5 minutes, then back on my way.
I could have just hopped on the highway and been back in Ann Arbor in 30 minutes or so, but I didn't want to. So I just sort of started to drive. I knew where I was on the map, and I knew where Ann Arbor was, so I knew the general direction I needed to go in order to get home. My intention was to take Plymouth road back, and I found it somewhat accidentally. But I also somewhat accidentally lost it. Eventually my meanderings led to US-12, which I'm quite familiar with, and so I hopped on and headed west.
While I was still in the Plymouth/Livonia area I found a Tim Horton's and went in for coffee and a cruller. The place was packed with senior citizens, and I sat by myself and, admittedly, listened to their conversations. There is something about people of that generation that I love to listen to -- something that's lost on us young folks. Perhaps it's a formality of speech, but also a wisdom. It seems to me that, even when speaking of frivolous things, many older persons choose their words carefully and well, and it makes their conversations rich and full.
After I found my way to 12, I saw a little strip mall with nothing else around it, and decided to go in. There wasn't much there, but there was a Kohl's and an Old Navy, and I found great deals and spent money I shouldn't have. But I shopped smart, and so I'm letting it slide for now. :)
From there I just came back home, got lunch, and gave myself a doll-up day. I took another shower, actually styled my hair (as opposed to drying and hoping it does something), cleared out my pores with a facial mask, and redid my make-up. Then I put on my brand-new burgundy dress with my gorgeous burgundy heels, and headed out the door to Huron High School.
The Ann Arbor District Library (which I love) was sponsoring a presentation by author and humanitarian Greg Mortenson, who has been building schools throughout the remote areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan for some 15 years. Despite the enmity between those nations and the United States, this American has gained their trust by doing good for the people, and is welcome nearly anywhere he goes. I had seen mention of his book on Google books, but when I saw the announcement that he was coming to Ann Arbor, I reserved it so that I could read it before he came. The book is powerful -- as much a biography as a detailed telling of his work, as his work has certainly become his life. He stumbled upon a village named Korphe, rashly promised to build a school for the children who studied outdoors, and found his life's calling. Seeing him speak put a face, a personality, a living being behind the stories. I had to leave early, as I was meeting people at Mongolian BBQ for dinner, but I plan to listen to the remainder of his talk on the AADL website when it's posted. Truly, I take my education for granted, but his work and his stories and his facts reminded me of the power of an educated mind -- and also how blessed I was to grow up in a family and nation that valued it.
The rest of the evening was low-key, but delightful. I joined friends at BD's to celebrate Gideon's birthday and was able to talk with people I hadn't seen in some time. Good food, too. I did regret those heels when I had to run back out to my car after dinner to retrieve my free meal coupon. I had no intention of paying, though. After dinner, a few of us went back to Gideon's and watched The Dark Knight. I don't know why, but throughout the movie I had the feeling I'd seen it before, though I certainly haven't. I have seen Batman Begins, though, and so maybe I was projecting my minimal knowledge of that movie onto this one. The movie was okay, but long -- I felt as though the story were complex and dragged out simply for the sake of being so. Perhaps creativity has been stretched so far that it becomes necessary to do that and remain on top.
In any case, I got home a little before two and all but fell into bed.
And now I might have made myself late for church by posting here. Off I go!!
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