The events of last week can be divided into two very distinct categories: Miracles and Farewells.

Miracle #1: Bhanu and I were finally able to have margaritas. We did so at the terrible Mexican restaurant down the street from Naropa just prior to the very last reading of the 2013 Summer Writing Program. We had been looking forward to it pretty much all summer and finally: the time came. The time came and went and now: it is the past.

Farewell #1: I went to a going away party for Kat, who is moving back to Atlanta. I am sorry to see her go, but: she needs to be somewhere that makes her happy. I told her that when she gets settled, she should find the Real Housewives people and pitch a Real Housewives of Boulder edition. I actually can’t even imagine what that would be like. Lots of yoga pants and ponytails, I think. The party was at Punch Bowl Social, which was super hipstery, but also: super fun. Before: I went to Ashley‘s art opening with Christina. Emily, Tara, Stanley, and Amy came. I hadn’t seen Ashley in a few years, so it was nice to catch up. She’s probably going to move to Denver. Let’s just all hope for it.

As we were all leaving the gallery, Emily said “Oh, we’re on our way to a birthday party now, at Punch Bowl Social.” “No shit,” I said, “That’s where the going away party I’m going to is happening.” It was nice to see her twice in one night. We hardly ever see each other, even though we only live a few miles apart. We were once in a very good production of The Pirates of Penzance together. Also in that production: Kat’s good friend, Becky, who broke my toe in dress rehearsal. True story.

Miracle #2: After the final SWP reading, Bhanu, LA and I made our way over to the after party, which was being held in a night club. This was unusual. We met Julieanne there. She looked around and promptly ordered a whiskey. It was loud and there were lots of very, very young people there, sweating and gyrating. We anticipated being miserable, but get this: it was actually really fun. I danced with LA, Bhanu, Anne, and Jade. Lots of other people were there, including Charlie, whose visit was short lived, and Brent, who I don’t really know but who is my Facebook friend and has great hair and is a snappy dresser. I had a blast. UNTIL: Anne requested that the DJ play Prince’s Pussy Control, a completely reasonable and very danceable request. He responded that he’s “only 23 and doesn’t own any Prince music.” To add insult to injury, not long after this blasphemy, he played Chumbawumba’s Tubthumping. Um, no. Worst DJ ever. We left shortly thereafter.

Miracle #3: On the way home, we were pulled over by the police. It was the middle of the night and we’d been at a dance club, a dance club for Christ’s sake. The officer informed me that she’d pulled me over because I was driving without my headlights. In the middle of the night. Upon leaving a dance club. MORON. She asked for my license, registration, and proof of insurance, and was shocked when I told her that I didn’t have a copy of my registration with me because I didn’t think I needed it since my stickers serve as proof that my car is registered. “In my eight years as a police officer, I’ve never heard such a thing,” she said. Well. Okay. She took my license and proof of insurance to her car and came back a few minutes later. “It’s your lucky night,” she said, “I’m all out of tickets.” She told me to go to the registration place and get another copy of my registration paperwork to keep in my car. At all times. I told her I would. She told us to have a pleasant evening. We said we would. I turned my headlights on and drove on my merry way. Carefully and at a moderate speed. Despite the fact that she hadn’t had a drink in 5+ hours, we all agreed that it would be best for Bhanu to stay in our guest room for the evening rather than driving back to Loveland. She spent the night with Teddy.

Miracle #4: We finally got the script for Some Kind of Fun. H-o-l-y c-r-a-p. More like Some Kind of AWESOME. I am nervous because I talk A LOT in the show, mostly to a video camera. Further: at rehearsal last week, I had a pretty good dance session on a queen sized mattress with a child-sized Barbie doll, which is playing one of my companions in the show. I managed to get in a pretty good slow-mo flip.

Miracle #5: Earlier in the week, after Anne Carson’s reading at the SWP, Bhanu convinced a handsome man called Johnny to take her for a go around the Naropa parking lot on his motorcycle. I don’t think it actually took much convincing. Lisa and Amy waited patiently as he went around and around the lot, Bhanu on the back. When he stopped to let her off, he asked if she would sign a book for him. “What?” she asked, as he pulled out a copy of one of her books from his bag and presented it to her. She told me this story while we all waited in the dark behind PAC to yell “surprise!” at Thurston for his birthday. She related the story like a giddy school girl, laughing and blushing, clutching at a whale earbone she’d been carrying around and later gave away.

Farewell #2: Liza left this morning for her new life in Vermont (The Green Mountain State!). I went over to her apartment to help her pack up some stuff before rehearsal yesterday. Jackson seemed a little anxious, but rolled around a lot. I will miss Liza, but this job couldn’t be more perfect for her and I’m excited to hear all about her adventures in New England. Last I heard, she had made it to Omaha.

Miracle #6: Farewell #3