I remember our first ever Lumps July 4th outing. We all carpooled to take muni down to Aquatic Park and check out the fireworks. The group was Erica Chang, Katie Lee, Sara Wong, Erica Ng, Vickie, Johnny and me. (Lumps was a lot more girls than guys back in the day.)
I remember for the first time ever really talking to Erica Chang. I sat next to her and she was telling me about her life in LA. She thought I was pretty young, having just finished college a year ago.
I remember sitting on the stone steps of Aquatic Park. Getting a good seat. Seeing the Blue Angels overhead. Taking a group picture. Enjoying the boom of the fireworks above. Seeing the bursts of light brighten the cloudy sky overhead. It was a fun time for me, since it was the first time I ever.
I remember hoofing it around the city trying to find a place to eat afterwards. We walked from Aquatic Park...to Fisherman’s Wharf. And found the wait for T.G.I.F to be way too long. Everyone was trying to eat, too. We hiked it over to North Beach...but were dismayed at the long waits in store. (We weren’t a very decisive bunch then.) We walked over to Chinatown to get a late dinner...but we weren’t really satisfied with what we found. We crawled over to Union Square and ended up at some really random corner diner which wasn’t all that good. But it sure felt great to sit down! Some left early to take the bus home without eating. The rest of us hopped in a cab and made it back home safely.
It was a pretty unforgettable night. I’ve never ever walked more all over the city aimlessly. (My advice for this July 4th, have a plan, and stick to it.) I certainly don’t regret it tho, and look back on the nite as a fond memory. It’s one of the really memorable fun, hang-out experiences I’ve had with Lumps. Kicking it (and enduring it) with peeps at chill events like these outside of church offered great opportunities to build up relationships and experiences together.
Ultimately, it’s not where we go or end up...but the walk along the road together. Even if it does stretch around half of the city. (Btw, that won’t be happening this Thursday...not if I can help it.)
