Calling Ronnie

        

         Last weekend I went to Las Vegas with a friend to his fraternity invite. 3 days. 2 nights. NO SLEEP. I have no other way to describe it other than-- wonderful and enlightening. By the beginning of the second night, I couldn’t figure out why my head was hurting considering I rarely get head aches. I realized shortly after, that though lack of sleep had a tad to do with it, the pounding mostly stemmed from laughing so hard for such extended periods of time! The amount of joy I got from those few days of running around Casinos in foofy dresses, lounging by pools, meeting new people, and jumping on fluffy hotel beds to country music should be illegal. 

In the charter bus on the way home to USC, I decided to call my father and play an April Fools joke on him. I called him and told him that the fraternity had stopped at a burger joint on the way home and that as the time to get on the bus approached, I told my friends I was going to get on the bus a few minutes early to use the restroom. However, I decided it was dumb to use the bus bathroom when I could just use the much more sanitary restaurant restroom. When I came out, the bus was gone and no one was answering their phones because 1.) they thought I was on the bus and just in the bathroom and 2.) the bros were playing super loud electronic music so there was NO way they were able to hear their phones. He told me to get off the phone and look around the parking lot some more. I did and then called a second time to say they were absolutely, positively gone. My dad was panicking, I got about ten-- “Oh shit. Oh shit! Well... baby? Well... hmmm. Just keep calling and keep me posted. Oh shit.” By this time, most of the people around me (including the bus driver) were listening in and trying to smother their giggles along with me. I called a third time and said there was no sign of a bus and no hope of anyone answering their phones, BUT that I had everything figured out. Two men said they were headed back L.A. and had offered me a ride-- they were USC alums and looked like business men so I felt “totally safe and comfortable with this daddy!” He seriously lost it. “DO NOT GET IN THAT CAR DANIELLE! DO NOT DO THAT! YOU DO NOT GET IN A CAR WITH MEN YOU DON’T KNOW! DO YOU HEAR ME?! YOU DUMB ASS!!!!!” The bus and I were in hysterics. When I asked him to remind me of the date and he realized it was the first of April, he thought it was pretty funny too (thank goodness!)

After the long ride back, I got off the bus and bid au revoir to my buddies. It wasn’t until a half an hour later that I remember that I had left a sun hat that I had borrowed from a friend behind. My friend had JUST bought the hat, loved it dearly, and I had told her that I would treat it like a newborn child. Many phone calls to the fraternity’s party planner later... I had a number for my bus driver Ronnie. Turns out he remembered me and answered my pleas to help me locate the lost hat with, “YOU DO NOT LOOSE YOUR FRIEND’S HAT! YOU DUMB ASS!!!” It took me several awkward seconds to realize that he was referencing my prank call. I have spent my week calling and texting back and forth with Ronnie (probably more communication with him than with my mother, which says a lot!)... but tonight he brought the hat to my doorstep. 


        His welcoming remarks of "Gurrrrrrl! You been blowin' up ma phone!" and big smile will always be a reminder that if you ask, you shall receive and if you knock, the door shall be opened unto you. 

...and in my case-- if you let go and let God, you will make the most wonderful memories with the most random of folks along the way!