I in fact did not get on the plane to New York as I had initially intended. In the airport, I sent text messages to my friends up north to hunt for a couch to sleep on. After recieving several 'no's, it became more and moere clear to me that if I were to find a way to be accommodated, it would be as mutually beneficial as I would prefer. I did not want to go to New York if it was an incovenience to my friends. It came down to a coin flip at the entrance of the aircraft- heads for New York, tails for Tallahassee. Tails it was. I imagined I must have made the one hundred or so passengers behind me nervous as I flipped a coin, then headed out of the gate. I approached the ticket checker and notified him that something just came up, and I would in fact not be boarding the flight. He was very patient and understanding, and brought me to a ticketing counter where he requested from the gentleman at the counter that my ticket be postponed for a year. I was relieved to hear that this arrangement could be made, a feature of the airlines that I might/could utilize at a future date if appropriate. I stayed in Orlando that night. My duffel bag flew to New York, then back to Orlando the following morning, where I picked it up from the airport. I walked down N Mills Avenue, my favorite street in Orlando. I stopped in to the Tako Cheena, an Asian/Mexican fusion restaurant and made a few friends who were playing a hardcore show down the street. I went to the hardcore show and saw an old friend, Devon there. I asked him for a ride back to Tallahassee but it seemed he couldn't swing it with the party he'd traveled with. I found a cheap hotel that night.
In the morning, I made my way to the greyhound station. A bus would not leave until the evening, so I had some time to kill. I walked across the street to a gas station where I found a gentleman cab driver, locked out of his car. He had two homeless gentlemen helping him, but could not seem to get his hands on a tool which would help him pry the door open. I went into the gas station where I asked the gentleman behind the counter for a tool we could use. We went into the maintenance closet and looked around. We agreed that an old broom handle might work well, especially of splintered into a taper. He signed off to me destroying the broom handle on the condition that I give him ten bucks to replace it. I paid him the money, went outside to my new friends and broke the broom handle. We collaboratively jammed the tapered stick into the driver's-side door. The driver fashioned a coathanger tool to retireve his keys from their place on the seat. After several attempts, we achieved success. The driver was quite relieved, as it was not his car, but the company's. I told him I needed a ride to a cafe if he could recommend one. He thought for a moment then said 'jump in'. His name was Kevin, a local of Orlando since twenty years back. Conversation was easy so he asked if I'd like company at the cafe. I obliged, and we had plenty of good conversation. Kevin and I exchanged information after the meal and parted ways. I took public transit back to the greyhound station, then a greyhound bus back to Tallahassee.
I contacted my close friend Sarah on my way back to Tallahassee. She happily agreed to host me in her roommate's room (as he rarely stays in it) for the duration of my time in Tallahassee. It was such a blessing. That night, Sarah and I drove out to the Miccosukee Land Co-Op, where several of my frineds live, and where a New Year's party was happening. We showed up a bit early, which was good because it was less overwhelming than it would have been to walk into a room full of friends that I hadn't seen in six months. As it was, I surprised my friends one by one. It felt warm and wholesome. James, Chantelle, Ben, and Jake, the residents of the home on the Co-Op, had developed a healthy and happy creative environment, miles away from the city lights and sounds. Throghout the hours that followed, I met and saw new friends and old. A few bands played, including Aircraft, (a major factor in my decision of coming back to Tallahassee, as this was to be thier final show). The noght was beautiful and surreal. We counted down the New Year without looking at a tv, without shots in our hands, without anything but each other, dancing in a living room to some motown tunes. It was going to be a good year.
