Haunted

Last night I ventured out of my hotel to get dinner before settling in to my extremely quiet hotel room (next time I might bring a tape of kids crying, whining, and screeching to play at night, then I’ll feel more at home).  As I drove around Downtown Orlando looking for something to eat, I couldn’t help but realize how long it had been since I visited that area.

As I drove through the city, the streets seemed to come alive.  Friends past.  Boyfriends past.  Twenty-first birthday parties.  Namely, my twenty-first birthday party where we celebrated at a club that has since opened under 38 other names.  That other time when swing dancing was popular and we all headed out to a club the had just opened.  I danced until my feet were sore (FYI: I’m a terrible dancer, and that night was no different.) and gave my number to some guy who was way to old for me…then I pretended to be my roommate and take a message when he actually called.  Because, let’s face it, he was way too old for me.  Even I knew that.  That club lasted all of 6 months, just about as long as the swing dancing craze in 1998-ish.

I was sad to see the things that had changed.  Huge city centers put up in place of smaller bars and restaurants we used to frequent.  Some of the quaint small city feel that I used to love about Orlando was missing.   And it was really sad to see how dead Church Street has become…okay, in fairness that started towards the end of my time in college, but now there is really no one there.

But then there were things that were exactly as I remembered.  My own personal landmarks riddled with memories of nights out with some of my best friends.  The restaurants that I loved are still there.  The awesome wine bar has expanded to nearly triple the size.  That club from my 21st birthday party?  It’s still there.  I giggled to myself over late night detours we used to take on our way back to campus.  I relived a bit of my “youth” for about an hour before returning to the hotel.

It was a nice visit.  My 21-year-old self had a great time there.  And yet I was very content to return home today, back to my responsibilities and crying/whining/screeching kids.