Goooooooooooooaaaaaaalllllll!

I love it when people surprise you.

This week was full of surprises for me. On Monday, one of my co-workers approached me and asked if I was free on the weekend to go to Orlando. You know, just like that. Surprise! I did a quick check to confirm that I had no good reason to miss this opportunity, and they booked my flight for the long weekend.

I went to help out with a promotional event for Nothing But Nets at a national 3 v. 3 youth soccer tournament, which meant I got to hang out at the Disney Wide World of Sports complex all day and teach kids and their parents about malaria and how awesome the Nothing But Nets campaign is for fighting malaria in Africa. It also meant I got to hang out with some Major League Soccer players who were there as spokespeople for our campaign. In the evening we had a meet-and-greet dessert with the athletes at Epcot Center and got to watch the fireworks show too. What a day.

Kevin is the goalie for Kansas City. He is also an all-round good guy who is genuinely interested in helping kids, especially with literacy. He wrote a children's book, which his wife illustrated, and he is hoping to use it to raise money for literacy programs. How cool is that? I love it when the people who made it remember those who haven't yet. Sometimes human beings are surprising.

Hello nurse!

So technically, I'm not sure I can say I met Sterling while traveling, because I was in Oregon at my best friend's glow-in-the-dark themed party. But since I live in Washington, DC now, I guess it counts. Besides, it's my blog, so I can make up the rules about who gets to be featured here and who doesn't.

Sometimes you meet people who are the right blend of fascinating and charming. Sometimes you discover that you don't have to work very hard to enjoy being around them. Sometimes if you're lucky, you get a few hours of great conversation with them.

Sterling is one of those. He's studying to be a nurse, and he's pretty damn cool in the pleasant "I'm not aware of how cool I am" kind of way. Plus anyone who show up to a party hosted by Jennifer and embraces the theme is good in my book.

Now, he wasn't supposed to be an SSF, because he's also cool enough to be willing to try out something new, like salsa dancing. But unfortunately schedules conflicted, and I flew back to DC to begin my second semester with a new SSF in Portland. Maybe I'll get a second serving next time around.