A week before I came home for Thanksgiving, Delta emailed me some “suggestions for your upcoming vacation to Omaha.” As if anyone would go to Nebraska for a fun weekend away (sorry, Neb).
They weren’t wrong, I guess. Living in New York the past five months has just felt like one loooooong vacation, so it’s weird to think “home” was just a vacation destination for me. But whatever, I’m not here to be sentimental. It’s time to tell you all how I spent a week reminding everyone in Nebraska that I’m a super cool city girl who did NOT peak in high school (even though I did — please refer to videos of my senior year performance of “Anything Goes” for proof).
My trip got off on a rough start, as my flight was cancelled nine hours before I was supposed to leave Laguardia, due to a storm that happened the day before. I frantically booked a new trip, left work four hours early and arrived at JFK to find my flight had been delayed two hours. Those of you who follow me on Twitter (which, again, you should) will know that I then thought I was on standby for a flight from Minneapolis to Omaha. When I arrived in Minneapolis, however, I discovered I was not on standby at all, and promptly started crying to the gate agents. After everyone had boarded, though, they told me to just go sit in seat 28C and it would be fine. Seems sketchy, but I went with it. People in Minnesota really are SO NICE.
Tragically, this airport disaster lead to my suitcase spending the night at MSP, so I was left to wear the same outfit — leggings and a black turtleneck — three days in a row. I showed up to a party on Saturday in this gross outfit, and multiple people said “wow, you look so New York” as if I haven’t been wearing all-black for my entire life. It’s a look.
Other highlights of the week include losing feeling in my legs during the first half of the Husker football game, then going to Duffy’s for the second half to drink two fish bowls and discover my dad sitting 10 feet away from where my friends and I were playing Never Have I Ever (yikes).
On Sunday, I went to Omaha with my mom to make pierogis at my grandparents’ house. We love a Ukrainian Thanksgiving. My grandparents also picked up my suitcase from the airport, so I finally had 11 other outfits to wear. I was pretty used to the black on black look, though, so I pretty much wore the same clothes all week anyway. That’s just who I am.
That night, we had Thanksgiving with my dad’s side of the family, where I finally became BFFs with my almost two-year-old cousin, Oren, who has probably already forgotten I exist.
Another great moment for me was when I stopped by Chi O on Monday to find Meredith, and six girls were like “Maddie!!!! You’re back!!!! I love your blog!!!!!!” which is just a reminder that sisterhood is forever. And I am, again, so grateful that my self-deprecating humor combined with my huge ego can provide some entertainment to at least a few people.
The week wasn’t too eventful, other than all of that. I went to two breweries with Meredith/one with Justin (sorry Justin); spent a solid four hours bitching with Grant and the Groomsgals; had coffee with Cat, who is rudely moving to SF instead of NYC; reunited with the entire Daily Nebraskan Arts & Entertainment section + Dakota; went to The Rail and only complained about it once (ok twice); saw Bohemian Rhapsody at 9 a.m. on a Friday with Debbie and Ben (WHY); and obviously celebrated Thanksgiving with so many members of my mom’s extended family whose names I still mix up.
So yeah, basically I just relived my entire spring 2018 semester of college in the span of a week, and it was so so so amazing. I love living in New York, but Nebraska always feels like home. I’m not going home for Christmas this year, though, so see you next June, Neb!