Throw-Back Monday (because I love alliteration)
Have you ever had a moment with someone that was so special you just knew you were the kind of kindred spirits that would be joined at the hip for the rest of your life? Like peas and carrots. I had that moment not too long ago.
So not as far back as I’d like to throw, but really the weekend that started it all – my 34th birthday. I love Universal and I love my birthday. I’d always wanted to attend Halloween Horror Nights and it looked like this year it was a marriage made in heaven (my special day is the 6th of October). Perfect time of year to mix fright and fun.
Zombies and tourists – oh my!
Some fam and a few new friends headed to Orlando. Jamming in the car to some party tunes – my brother-in-law introduced us to Ylvs’s “The Fox”. It was AWESOME. Played about 150 times by my friend Kyle over the course of 48 hours, it became an instant classic. I also think it may have freaked a few people out and annoyed several others, but for me it was a total gas.
Kyle getting his Fox on.
Friday and Saturday night were spent traipsing through haunted houses, dodging zombies and enjoying several vodka tonics, among other things. I got to hang out with George and Jessica (my new local buddies), ride a couple of coasters, and eat at an Irish pub.
Jessica and me in line for the 3D house.
George and me at Universal poorly attempting a selfie. I need longer arms.
My weekend could NOT have been better – or so I thought. As I drunkenly blissfully bounded around the park with my groupies, we happened upon the only place that really mattered – Rising Star Karaoke in CityWalk.
I know what you’re thinking – karaoke totally makes everything better. But that wasn’t it! As I ran to the stage like Courtney Cox at a Bruce Springsteen concert, I joined complete strangers in belting out “Pour Some Sugar On Me” (my personal karaoke tune). But that wasn’t it, either! When it was over I met my group at our table where another vodka tonic was happily awaiting me (thanks, Kyle). As I grabbed my drink, I glanced at the table to our right and there she was. A lone girl sitting in a booth sorta kinda spazzing/dancing in her seat sipping her rum and coke… something I would TOTALLY do if I was sitting alone in a booth at a karaoke bar at Universal Studios! I was intrigued. I also had no filter.
Of course that means I did what any Good Samaritan would do, I leaned over the top of her booth (I guess rather stalker like in hindsight) and introduced myself. Little did I know I was stalking meeting my BIRTHDAY TWIN!!!! Her name was Erin (but she said it like “Ur-in” because she was from Beantown). We swapped birthday stories. We laughed about how amazingly random it was to meet our twin at closing time in Orlando. We discussed how we came from different walks of life, our hopes, our dreams – ok, maybe not so much that last bit, but in that moment it seemed as if we’d known each other our entire lives. We took selfie after selfie. We had others take pictures, too. Her boyfriend finally came back from the bar (so she wasn’t alone after all) and we shared limincello together! It was the BEST of times. Erin and I had suddenly been united after all of these years …. The seemingly long warm fuzzy back and forth we were having realistically only lasted about ten minutes before the bouncers came to the table and kicked us out, but it was a magical ten minutes that felt like forever.
Erin and me taking selfies.
So I texted her at 3:30 in the morning because it seemed like a good idea at the time. I wanted her to know how much I had missed her since we parted ways. She didn’t text back.
Sometimes, when it rains or there’s a sharp chill in the air, I can feel that hole left in my heart by an incredible yet fleeting moment that was had in a karaoke bar at Universal. Birthday Twin, I miss you. Wherever you are.
I miss you, Birthday Twin!
