thousands of years because everyone can relate to them. We have mythic symbols and mythic relationships that just are. It’s kinda amazing to me. A hero is a mythic symbol. In a way, Jeff Bridges is a hero in that movie—albeit, a very lazy one. The narrator with the really cool deep voice says “He’s the man for his time and place” and in Los Angeles, nonetheless.
Anyway, Daniel and I talked like Maude Lebowski for hours after that movie. I have the affected accent pretty much down. “The story’s ludicrous” is now one of my favorite things to say because, not only does it apply to the plot lines of porno films, which is what Maude was referring to when she said it, but “The story’s ludicrous” might as well be the bumper sticker on the vehicle that is my life given that I was moo’d at publicly. Daniel had gone to Lebowski Fest a few years ago and said we had to go this year because there was one near us. Okay, Dude, I’m in!
It’s held at a bowling alley and you dress up as characters from the movie, and Daniel said everyone is incredibly creative in their choices. We’d have to rewatch the movie and look for über-subtle details in order to come up with a costume because that is what some people do, and it’s fun to try to guess what people are. (He said the more obvious ones are fun, too, but we are clearly the nuanced, obscure types.) If truth be told, I’m looking for any events or distractions to keep my mind off graduating from high school and going on to more school where I’ll continue to feel like a freak. (At least at Lebowski Fest everyone is a freak.)
Daniel and I have been talking about college a lot. I got in to three of the six schools that I applied to. I think my mom is more excited than I am about my college options because she’s been reading about them online constantly and creating lengthy, color-coded pros and cons lists. Every time I talk to her about it, I just end up confused over her color-coding, which she tells me is not “the salient point” from her notes.
Daniel applied to the California universities like I did because his parents made him, and he didn’t have to write an essay or send a teacher recommendation, which he said wouldn’t help his chances. He was thinking of applying to some private Catholic schools because of his weird fetish for Catholicism, and while Sal appreciated his devotion (little did he know), he said they were too expensive. At any rate, we have to decide on schools soon because we have to send in our deposits. However, figuring out how to go to Lebowski Fest sounds more fun at the moment.
*AUNT JOYCE E-MAIL* 4/24
Dear Super-Hip, Way Cool Aunt Joyce,
I really need you to watch The Big Lebowski, think it is one of the best movies ever, and then want to take Daniel and me to Lebowski Fest. I’ll explain the thing to you after you watch the movie and make my dream come true! (I’m sure we need someone over twenty-one to take us. You just barely fit that bill, LOL.)
Your niece who loves you sooooooooooo much,
Danielle
*AUNT JOYCE E-MAIL* 4/24
E-mail back from Aunt Joyce just seconds later
Well, lady, I’ll watch the movie, research Lebowski Fest, and then let you know.
A.J.
*JUSTINE LETTER*
Letter to Justine
Dear Justine,
Thank you for writing me. I hope you don’t mind that I shared your letter with my friend Daniel, who I think is my best friend, and you are the first person I’m telling.
How am I filling my days, you asked? Well, right now I’m trying to get over a boy I once really liked but who acted like a real jerk to me on several occasions, actually. And I’m also being forced to think about college and where I will go. My friend Daniel and I are going to talk about it and try to come up with a plan. I never spent much time thinking beyond high school because dealing with high school was hard enough, and there were some bad things that happened before high school that made thinking about the future kind of an incidental idea. I don’t know if that makes sense. My life is kind of complicated, I guess. So, anyway, I guess I’m busy with thoughts.
I am also sometimes busy with hanging out with Daniel or