we're clever but we're clueless

I am in that phase of not really feeling tired but knowing I should be because I haven't gotten enough sleep. A little bit like a drug, lack of sleep is. I'm just kind of happy, with no real worries because my sense of reality is somewhere else.

We drove over 800 miles yesterday. It involved a lot of my friends, inadvertently, and it made the whole trip manageable, and it was a lot of fun for as miserable as some parts it may sound.

I've got some cool friends, and I am blessed to know some great people.

Number 1: Jordan Kerr

Jordan and I met our freshman year, and he was part of a group of the greatest friends you could ask for. Especially halfway through the year when everybody has already made their friends. Our adventures were never sparse and never connected with anything important. But just fun.

He rented a car to Jeremy (his was smacked a week ago and the girl's insurance sent it to the shop), providing us the means to travel 800 miles, and he helped us figure out how to get it back without being stopped, thrown in jail, and having the car impounded before the trip even began. Because, let's be honest, those are real possibilities.

Number 2: Jared Workman

Jared and I have been in the same stake forever, really. I think we met/became friends when we were called to the Family History Center. You know, I'm not really sure how it happened. It did though, and I'm increasingly glad it did. 

You can just always count on Jared. For anything. Even when you really shouldn't count on him because you just shouldn't take advantage of the fact that he'll do stuff for you. He helped us find Matchbox Twenty's twitter handle (@matchboxtwenty), get directions to the sweet place where we would crash for a quick nap, and overall helped with morale in his incredible speed at anything asked of him. 

Number 3: Heather & Cindy Phippen

These girls are just darling. Seeing them was our first stop halfway through the 800 mile trip, and it was a happy stop. I met both of them in Boise, friends that Jeremy made while he lived there and still keeps up with them, and I think they are both great. It was just fun to see them. And Cindy showed me some of her Europe pictures. Ah. I was jealous. And she's a good photographer.

Number 4: Jared & Shari Orme

I have hung out with these people 3 times. Only two of those were intentional; that's how cool they are. They just pop up right when we need to see them. And it was only a month or so ago that I met them. 

They are always generous with their house, dinner, and time to just sit and chat. Even when we don't have it! It's hard not to take them up on the offer. 

Number 5: Peter Sorensen

Because I met Peter through my cousins, I feel like it means I've known him forever too. Such a good guy. He talks to everyone, is always willing to help, and he's always up for an adventure. Or hosting people in their adventures and letting them get the sleep they need.

Number 6: Danielle Maresh

I moved into this girl's apartment in January. And the rest is history. Super fun, always ready to play, and quick with a camera. There are so many precious moments in our apartment that have been immortalized by film because of this girl's quick reaction. Love. her. 

This morning when I returned from this adventure, Dani woke up. My roommate is gone for the weekend, and she came and crawled into the bed next to me while we both slept in. When I woke up and texted her (from the other room) to beg for a volunteer to pick up a car, she was more than happy to oblige me. And she got to enjoy all of the fun of that mini-adventure: the car guys not knowing where the car was, then searching frantically for the keys, nobody really being sure of anything, and the bald guy asking if I was dropping off my husband's rental. 

I'm glad she got to laugh about all of it with me. And she gave me this cool shirt, which has meant everyone all day has asked me about my baseball preferences.

Number 7: Jeremy Lindström

I met this kid in my ward almost 5 years ago. And we started to be friends because we had the same friends and decided maybe we could do some of the same things together, since we both like to ask "why not" instead of "why."

And really, what would this adventure be without a reason to leave in the first place?


[title from never know by jack johnson]