Restoration

Restoration is a topic that is becoming more and more recognized by America. I have always had a fascination with it in literature, such as J. R. R. Tolkien's works. He had a knack for writing Incomplete Restoration to increase suspense. Each time our characters are relaxing, in his stories, conflicts or occurrences arise soon after, not unlike real life if one “Restores” too hard 😂. You see, my father had a saying that stayed with me. “You can party a lot and have no fun, or you can party a little and have a lot of fun.” The point being, be responsible how you spend your time restoring. I have many good memories of my restoration in my youth and I am happy that those words stuck with me. In fact it only took one incident of going too hard on my partying and how it ruined my restoration. Let us start there!

 It was senior year in high school, and it was near its end. I had not gone out to too many parties as I was quite fond of hosting myself. Dao and Vin had brought me to the older homie Nestor’s party, where I ran into many of my fellow Sandburg tiger classmates, along with JB! Now, as I stated before in my blog here, growing up, most of my friends were older, and when they were younger were too concerned with their own image to bring a lil white boy around. That and my father promised to beat their ass if I had ever gotten me mixed into what they were doing. They respected that but I was older now and Dao had a knack for exposing me to the reality of this world and how to really socialize and chill out. Social anxieties were slight with me, but they were there. At home I am relaxed and I was a pretty heavy drinker. I took after my Nana and figured out I had what's called Iron Gut. Beer before liquor, liquor before beer does not matter to me, I can throw wine in the middle of that if I so choose. Soo here I was at Nestor’s and wouldn’t you know it! I am uh…partying a lot. I was really abusing my iron guy and restoration period by partying a lot. I found myself sitting in the kitchen…Dao standing near me sees me… convulsing? and rushes to put a bag near my face. I miss it a bit 😅 and He helps me to the bathroom. I spent a lot of time there and finally Dao re enters and has to help me get to his car. He ends up picking me up, opening his long door to his coupe and throws me on his passenger seat. He races to get me to my moms because he clearly knows the night is done for me as it should be. We arrive at my moms house, he helps me and I stop him near the step onto my moms front patio. I sit there and begin throwing up more in the yard. I realize my glasses are gone as I keep throwing up. Apparently it is so loud it wakes up my younger sister, Kristen. She begins… what i call whisper yelling asking what's going on over and over and Dao finally quiets her up telling her to go inside. Shortly after I am finally ‘all thrown up’ out and Dao realizes I am covered in throw up. He helps me remove my sweatshirt and I realize my legs do not work. Dao lifts me, opens the front door and my head slips and I slam it onto the door frame. He carries me all the way back into my room, throws me on my bed, puts me on my side with my arm over my head so I do not roll on my back and throw up in my sleep and choke on my vomit. And he goes to my laundry room to do my vomit covered sweatshirt. Wow…what a pal! It was after that night I realized what those words meant my dad spoke of. And it was not hard to keep true to those words from there on out.

 So that was an example of partying a lot and having no fun. Let’s get into partying a little and have a lot of fun! It was 2010 and I had graduated high school, my dad had moved up to the mountains of Ramona and I needed to get up there (didn’t have a license quite yet). Dao, always being up for anything, was happy to take me. In fact, Vin was happy to join as well. So as the three musketeers we journey up the hill to Ramona. It was great to see my dad and he did a lot of work to get comfortable on the property he was staying at. He had turned the above garage loft into a nifty two bedroom, living room, kitchen pad. I had a bed, vin had the couch and a recliner. It was great! My dad even turned a part of the barn into a workshop where he set up his classic unchanging garage hang out. No matter where my dad moves, he has this custom built ‘area of operation’ that goes with him. Zapata house, Thomas Hayes home, back to zapata, now Ramona! Similar set up, fluctuating space of operation. This home was actually owned by my aunt. She has horses and my dad was allowed to keep his motorcycles in the horse barn. He converted one of them to concrete and had a sliding barn door built to lock and secure his belongings. This little area was the main party area. We would stop for beers and head to the house and relax out there and restore in the barn and outside under the stars. It was freeing. We were young and loud, especially Vin and I. We know our voice carries, and the more we party the less we remember. Up there there was no worry to be quiet, neighbors were too far and the property was large enough not to bother those sleeping. We were responsible and in the morning, we treated ourselves to my dad's delicious cup of coffee in the cool morning air outside on the deck. Staring off into the mountains and taking it all in, we had a clear head to ride dirt bikes all day. Those restoration days up on the mountain will ever be growing as a cherished memory and I was happy to be able to do it. Dao, Vin, and I would disappear up there so often that people would call us asking where we were all going. It was nice not paying attention to our phones and to unplug and truly, truly gain some restoration was a gift.

The restoration continued from the work week while down the mountain, too. Many times I would open up my mom's home as there was no place to go responsibly. It was rough for my mom and sisters I am sure, but I appreciate them nonetheless. There were oddly cold days playing beer pong on an official ping pong table in the back, luckily I had a jacket and blanket collection to share and keep us warm. Talk about “cold” when the alcohol consumption can’t even warm you! It was a time for us to talk and distract our minds from schooling and work and many people were met for the first time for me in those days. Many of dimes swallowed as well, that's for sure (read post “Let’s Meet: Marvin”) All the while this went on, I reminded myself, “You can party a lot and have no fun or you can party a little and have a lot of fun.” So if there is one thing to take from this post on restoration, it is just that, be responsible. As always, till next time!