Erin has come to visit. We are definitely having a good time. I think we are creating lots of memories. Here's an example.
Friday night I had a school forum to attend. It started at 6 but I had to work until 5:30. So, when I realized that I wouldn't have time to go home and pick Erin up I texted her to meet me at 33 W 19th Street which, if you look at the map I gave her, would show that that is the address of my work. After going back a bit my phone died.
At this point I had about ten minutes to get to school but I had no idea where she was. She said she was at 26th street which is the wrong direction so I texted her to tell me where she was. But, with the phone dying I couldn't even turn my phone on to see.
Stage 1: Denial
I didn't know what to do. At this point I couldn't believe this was happening to me. I couldn't believe that the day I needed to be on campus I was looking for a friend lost in New York.
Stage 2: Anger
Did I not give her a map that showed exactly where I would be? Did I not explain that I needed to be at campus at 6?
Stage 3: Bargaining
There was no way that she would find me and seeing that I knew how to get around better, I decided I needed to somehow figure out how to contact her. My phone was dead so I couldn't pull her number off. So, I needed to contact someone who had her number. I had $2.00 in quarters so I called my mom on the house phone. She wasn't home but Dad was able to give me Brittany's phone number. I called Brittany but she didn't answer so I left a message telling her it was VERY important to call Erin and tell her she needed to go back to my apartment and meet me there. So I went back to my apartment to wait for Erin.
Stage 4: Depression
I knew Brittany wouldn't even listen to her message for another 45 minutes. I had no idea where Erin was. I didn't know what else to do other than to wait. I had missed the forum.
Stage 5: Acceptance
At this point it was 6:30 and there was nothing I could do but wait. Erin had my keys so I couldn't even get into my apartment and charge my phone. My roommate had gone out for the night so no one was there to let me in. I just waited.
I then realized that I had a few more quarters and I had a dollar bill that I could break. I went next door to our favorite Chinese restaurant and asked them to break it. I now had $1.75 in quarters so I walked down to the corner where another set of payphones are. So, I put $.75 in the machine and dialed the only other number I knew. Erin's home phone number which I had called several times when I was younger. "Please insert seventy-five cents." I inserted another $.75. "Please insert seventy-five cents." What?!? The phone I had was broken?!?!?! It wouldn't even give me my change back! All I had was 75-cents. This was it. I didn't even have any more bills in my wallet. I went to the next phone and put a quarter in, hearing a click. A good sign. I put another one in and then another. I dialed the number and it rang.
I didn't know what I would do if no one answered. I was going minute by minute just trying to get in contact with Erin.
"Hello?"
"Hi, Audrey. This is Ashley Pacini in New York. I'm trying to get in contact with Erin. My phone died and she has my keys to the apartment so I can't charge my battery. I'm not sure where she is but could you call her and tell her to meet me at my apartment?
About 20 minutes later Erin showed up. By this point I was laughing inside as I realized that she was probably more freaked out and upset than I was. She was very apologetic and I felt bad for being so angry. I decided to just email the professors who did the forum so no big deal. We ended up walking around New York City for a bit. I made her lead as a test. We also called Brittany and told her there was no longer an emergency. She was quite nervous.
Post Script: Erin did try calling Brittany on her own. She actually ended up at school thinking I would go there, walking into the classroom but didn't see me. So she turned around and came home.
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