AUGUST 3rd: Lav

Back in Miami, I once asked Anjuli what the meaning of the word “obnoxious” was. She answered with one word: “LAV”. I acknowledge that this is usually the first impression that some people might get when they first meet this Croatian-American guy with New Zealand passport. However, when you really get to know him, you find out that there is much more behind that façade of immature soccer addict hyperactive smiley guy. He is the example of a positive Karma. He only has fun when everybody else around him is having fun. He is always ready to give you a ride or to do you a favor without expecting anything else in return. Unfortunately, nowadays that is kind of rare. He is the type of guy that when you are blind drunk is standing right in front of you, with a smile on his face and putting a fresh new beer in your hand. And apart from me, he is the only person I know, that not only listens to Led Zeppelin on a regular bases, but also knows by hard the lyrics of Stairway to Heaven and even knows how the album cover looks. When Simone told me once that she didn’t like me when I was with Lav because of how we acted together, I actually took it as a compliment. And for the record, Simone loves Lav and she will always remember how Lav’s eyes were watery at her farewell, her last night in Miami.

Both the rain falling from that dammed cloud that I couldn’t put out of the scent ever since I woke up in Austria that morning, and the fifteen minute ferry ride came to an end. After a total of 12 hours I was finally in Pag. Apart from the crew, I was the only pedestrian on board. Eager to meet my friends, I walked sideways along the deck that was bursting with just started noisy cars. Once on dry land and leading the car parade coming out from the ferry, in the distance I could make out two figures that looked like Lav and Klemen. Since I was against the dock lights I recognized them before and I started giggling and shouting “CHAVALES!” Then I saw Lav running towards me. It was just like in an 80’s Sunday afternoon HBO romantic comedy movie with a happy ending. I dropped my bag and my isolating mat and started running towards Lav. We both jumped and hugged in the air. After landing he threw me up a couple of extra times while he was speaking 5000 words per second. Later on that night I heard through the grapevine that he was rehearsing the way he was going to welcome me.