Chapter 10: Disc Golf and a Reunion
On a hot second Saturday of July 2018, I met up with my childhood friends Sarah, James, and Henri at Schenley Park to play disc golf and have a picnic lunch before Carnegie Mellon University's annual summer alumni reunion. "Hi, guys!" I greeted my friends. "Hi, Angel!" Sarah greeted back. "Did you find a good picnic spot, James?" Henri asked. "Yes, Henri," James replied. "Overlook Shelter, on the road of the same name." We then played 10 rounds of disc golf. "I was wondering whether you guys still like Schenley Park, or not," I stated to my friends. "It's all right," Sarah stated in a bummed tone of voice. "Are you sure?" I asked. "You guys don't sound so enthusiastic." "Well, Schenley Park reminds me of Carnegie Mellon University," Sarah explained, "and the other park, Frick Park, is closer to our new apartment on Shady Avenue." "We only liked Schenley Park because it was close to where we used to live in Oakland," James explained. "But since we don't live there anymore, well... what's the point?" "It's the same with how I found out that Alex only used to like Frick Park more than Schenley Park because her parents used to live by there, but now they live all the way in Swissvale, which is farther away from the park," I explained. "Okay," Sarah agreed with me. "Before we eat lunch, James, did you happen to remember the park in Natrona Heights that we always used to go to?" I asked James. "Hint: you drove me around this park on my birthday." "Oh, I remember now," James stated. "Harrison Hills Park." "Let this be a day of celebration and fun," I told my friends. "Can we just eat already?" Henri asked. "I'm hungry." "Okay, Henri," James agreed. "What would you like to eat?" "I don't know, a hot dog with ketchup and mustard, some Doritos, and a nice, tasty bowl of chocolate ice cream," Henri replied. We went to Overlook Shelter to have a cookout lunch featuring hamburgers, hot dogs, cobb salad, baked beans, chips, pretzels, soda, lemonade, cookies, and ice cream with toppings. All of the food that we had was bought at Giant Eagle on Penn and Shady Avenues. Once we were finished eating, we decided to save some leftovers for the reunion. The Carnegie Mellon University alumni reunion took place on Carnegie Mellon University's main campus. "That was very nice of you to save the food, James," I thanked my male friend. "I bet nobody else was able to have a barbecue lunch on top of Schenley Park, like we did," Sarah agreed. "Why didn't you eat a hamburger or hot dog, Sarah?" I asked my best friend. "I don't really like those foods as much as I like salad," Sarah explained. "However, the ice cream sundaes at the end were yummy!" "They reminded me of my ice cream cake from Dairy Queen that I had at my surprise birthday party," I agreed. James sighed. "It seemed like only yesterday I was graduating from Freeport Area High School and starting Carnegie Mellon University," he told us, "but that was over a decade ago: way back in 2006." "I felt bad I couldn't attend the graduation ceremony since I was too young," Henri stated. "Hopefully, I see Alexander at the reunion today," James stated. "Sarah, you looked so beautiful that evening," I remarked to my friend. "You looked pretty nice, too, Angel," Sarah agreed. "I actually wore the exact same outfit to my own graduation ceremony 2 years later in 2008." After a good few hours of the reunion, we ate a dinner in Cohon Center, which featured pizza, sub sandwiches, potato salad, candy, and cake. James, of course, shared leftover hamburgers, hot dogs, potato chips, ice cream, and soda with the rest of the university. "Hi, Alexander," James greeted. "It's so good to see you!" "Mmm, where did this pizza come from?" James asked. "Vocelli's," Alexander replied. "That's on Baum Boulevard," I stated. "If I'm not mistaken, and I'm not, isn't there also a Pizza Hut nearby?" I asked. "Where the pizza for my birthday celebration came from?" "Oh right," Sarah stated. "Look at your sundae, Angel. You have chocolate and vanilla with chocolate chips, nuts, hot fudge, whipped cream, and sprinkles!" "Doesn't it taste a little like my birthday cake from Dairy Queen?" I asked. "You can have some if you want." "That's okay," Sarah stated. "Mmm, this potato salad is good! What is it made from?" "Baby potatoes and arugula pesto sauce," I replied. "Harrison Hills Park is to Freeport Area High School as Schenley Park is to Carnegie Mellon University," I continued. "Very good analogy, Angel," James remarked. "And Frick Park is to... the Children's Institute of Pittsburgh, I guess? Have you guys ever thought about working there? I have." "Maybe someday when Wexford becomes too far away for us to commute every day," James told me. Pretty soon, Sarah, James, and Henri drove me back to my mom's apartment in Highland Park. "Thanks for a great day, everyone!" I thanked my friends. "You're welcome, Angel," Sarah replied. "Bye, guys!" "Bye!"