A REVIEW OF THE PAST FOUR YEARS: Freshman part 3 - Summer

The summer started off still spending lots of time with Joey. We both moved home and neither of us had jobs because a) he was going to Brazil and b) I had a busy summer planned as well. He was so close to heading off on his mission, but we enjoyed the time we had together. I planned our last date together and the next day he gave a farewell talk. More on that next, first details about that last date: Rodizzio Grill in SLC, then to the gateway (which didn't turn out like planned), but that was ok because we were able to walk down town together and talk about life and the future. Now that we are where we are it seems very foretelling what we talked about but at the time it was all very abstract. We talked about some-days and ifs and what we wanted in our future. We both hinted to the fact that we wanted the other in the picture we painted for ourselves but never clearly stating it. I think it was better that way. Neither of us wanted the night to end and so went for a drive and parked after getting closer to home. It was nice to keep talking, however we couldn't put off the fact that it was time to go home any longer. It was time to start putting a cap and close to this time of our lives. It was heart wrenching and many tears followed.

Like I said, the next day many people gathered to commence the fact that Joey was headed out to Brazil for the next 24 months. It was a busy day with lots of people and his family didn't really want to give him up, so there wasn't too much time for us. To be honest, it was probably better that way, and I knew I had already stolen him from them the night before. I was already in Spring Classes at BYU again and when the next day came, Monday night Joey was set apart. Joey came over to my house (parents were on some sort of adventure across the world, so I was alone at the house) the hour before this morbid event occurred. I think we both cried the whole time and realized that this was the last time that we would see each other. We both knew there was a possibility that this was the last time that we would ever be this close. We both knew that everything was going to be different from then on. Neither of us wanted it to end. It had been a really good six months that we had been together. A good time in our lives. When it came time for him to leave I decided I had to compose myself and couldn't let the last image he had of me be with my bawling. He got in the van, pulled out, and didn't get to the corner of my street before I felt like my world had collapsed. I knew it was right. I knew he was supposed to leave and go serve the Lord, but I hated it. I hated that I was left behind and that everything was going to change. I'm crying just remembering the hurt and pain that I felt. I cried the next hour before I realized that I couldn't be alone the whole night. I called April and her and her family came over that night and slept over. I was a wreck, I really was. I missed him already so much. And it hadn't even been 24 hours. He hadn't even left his family yet. Tuesday I went to school thinking about him every minute. His parents called me on their way home from the airport after dropping him off and told me all that had transpired in the past few hours. And I lived off of that.

Luckily, that night the Finley's invited me over to give me something that Joey had left for me (his first letter and a gift which I carried with me most of the next 24 months). They were so nice to include me in their family even though Joey was gone. And I needed them. I needed a reminder of him. I really did at that time.


Luckily my family was also very good to comfort me at that time too. We did lots of things together that was a grateful distraction for me. One event in particular: we went to the Rodeo together and took a picture of my first kiss from a boy after Joey left so we could send it to him. (I don't think Joey got too jealous of this one)
After Spring semester ended for me my parents and I headed off to Paris and India for Rajesh's wedding. Going to Paris was amazing. It was so fun to see my Dad's mission and to see the beautiful and exquisite things there. Europe was so different than the western United States, places I had been exposed to previously.

India was another culture shock. We saw the rich of the rich and the poor of the poor. I had no idea there was such a discrepancy right next to each other. It was such a treat to also see another culture, Hinduism, during such a culturally rich event: a marriage.
While in India I decided that the souvenir I wanted was henna - it is an herb that they paint on, you let sit for 3-4 hours and them brush off and it stains your skin and is a month and a half (or so) tattoo. Mine was on my hands and went up to about my forearm. Brides get henna placed all over their body - everywhere. I thought I was doing pretty good to have it where I did. It took some nerve on my part. Certainly going outside of my comfort zone.
As a family we also took our annual trip up to Waterton. This year was fun because Sean, Spring and Kepler were there with us. This first picture is of Kepler and I up at Goat waiting while the others fished. The second is of Spring and I in the meadows of Rowe. I related my adventures weekly (or more) with Joey through letters and lived for his letters in response. The summer ended and it was time to start preparing for another semester at BYU. Moving into a new apartment with new girls, but I was still with Katie, Danielle, and Jess. Welcome Sophomore year.