Amanda Takes Off...

I stay in contact with one person from elementary, junior- and high school: Mark. I stay in contact with one person from grad school: Caro.

And then there's the one college friend I stay in contact with.

I met A my first week on campus at Agnes Scott. She was a year ahead of me.

I didn't like her. She was way too perky and jumpy and just...damn.

Well, A and I were both philosophy majors and we got to know each other and became good friends. Final semester, our senior year (I finished early), we spent at least one day a week eating lunch together—on her lunch plan, because I was an off-campus student.

After graduation, A moved to the DC area for grad school. We stayed in touch via email, but lost contact in Korea. We got back in touch and met (with the husbands) last month. A and her husband were married one week after we were, for much the same reason: he's military and they needed to get married before having a wedding. When we met, we fell into our old friendship right away.

Tonight we met (with Good Man; her husband was busy) in Old Town for dinner and a visit to the waterfront.

At the end of the night, A and I hugged. She turned to Good Man. Good Man stared at her and started laughing nervously. "Heh. Heh. Ha. Heh."

She grinned, "Are you going to hug me?"

"We hug more in America, [Good Man]," I said. I remember when my mom wanted to give Master a hug. I didn't know the word and demonstrated on her. Master nodded and hugged her, but he was uncomfortable. I didn't even learn the Korean word for "to hug" until Good Man taught me the 뽀뽀뽀 song (안다).

Good Man looked for all the world like he wished he were anywhere else. But he nodded and leaned in for a hug.

I need to teach him the American Goodbye Hug. He doesn't know what to do with his arms.

Amanda

Good Man

Father and Son

Me A and She A
If you read those phrases fast, they almost sound like Korean name. 미에, 시에?

Waterfront

Waterfront Trash

Yummy Taffy at $9.50/lb

Shadow Play I

Shadow Play II