too much driving when gas prices are so freaking high.

this must be the summer of travel. it is for me, at least. i flew to new york in june, drove to chicago in july, drove to texas this past weekend, and now i am going to drive to new york this thursday. this last trip was unexpected and not planned for. sadly, it is for a funeral of a friend from my old church in buffalo. she was only 19. she fell from a cliff in zoar valley, a fall of over 50 feet. by the time she was able to be moved, she had already died. david called me last night while i was at work to let me know what happened. i didn't cry till i told my dad that i was driving home because lauren had died. i don't really understand why i feel so affected by this. i mean, i knew her and i would consider her a friend, though we were never close, but i feel really shook up over this, literally. whenever i think of it or have to tell someone why i am driving to new york and back in 4 days, i start to shake a bit. maybe its cause this is the first real death of a peer, someone i once called a friend. maybe it's because i know how much more my other, closer friends will hurt. i think that may be why i feel the strong need to drive home, so i can comfort those i love and cry with them. my dad doesn't think its a good idea that i should drive home, but he doesn't ever think that what i want to do is a good idea. i just feel that it's the right thing for me to come home and be with old friends. a note to the family just won't cut it, cause i hardly know them at all, and i would be very surprised if they remembered me.

i hope igbatious, simone, and widgimon will be okay for a couple days. it seems like they are becoming friends. huzzah for 4-day, 2000 mile trips and leaving cats in my apartment by themselves. maybe john or lindsey can check up on the li'l guys.