Is make a list of trips I'd love to take but currently can't afford. Clearly.
Trips I'd Like to Take Sometime in my Life:
Paddle Boundary Waters
Sail the coast of Maine
Watch Sunrise at Acadia National Park
Train around Europe
Camel Ride in Egypt
Rickshaw in Thailand
Hike through Banff National Park
Gondola in Venice
Eat beignets at Cafe Du Monde in Jackson Square again
Cattle drive in Montana
Grand Canyon on a donkey
Well here it is, an ending of an era. I am officially no longer the proud owner of a MOAK (Mother of All Keys) at Windy Gap. I have no idea what 6:30am is going to look like on Monday but it will be an adjustment not grabbing that radio, those keys, that nametag and driving those 30 minutes; my quality time with NPR. I'm ready to leave, ready to not be in this holding pattern, but realizing I'm just moving on to do that elsewhere doesn't help much. I'm thankful to WG for the work, for the patience, the friendships and the lessons. I never quite fit in and most of the time I liked that. I'm really just going to miss the faces of friends. That consistency.
This past summer was a time of such promise for me, feeling sheer joy in potential. In jobs, friendships, relationships, the future, life in general, being in great shape. And I know potential is fickle, believe me, but this summer was the first time I ever actually entertained it. It was the first time I left my logic at home and let with my heart, and even where I am today I'm glad I did it. I lived differently if only for a short while. I don't know when or if I'll be able to do it again, but the simple notion that once in a while my mind is forced to relinquish control is a bit of hope for me. That's a slow progress.
How is potential detrimental to faith? Is it? Where do potential and faith cross—the making of ones own vague, idealistic plans in the face of eagerly seeking the will of God—and if they do cross, where is the compromise? Why are we made to hope so strongly when hope and faith often crash into each other?
There are times when the hand of God rests so vividly on me that I feel myself lead as if in a dance. And then there are moments when I cry out to feel a touch and silence shouts back. My love does not diminish; unfortunately my understanding does. Strange how confusion and anger bely my simple need to feel led.
Current Listens: “Girl in the War”--Josh Ritter. Great acoustic song--impressed with this guy on a regular basis. “A Sentence of Sorts in Kongsvinger”--Of Montreal (“I spent the winter on the verge of a total breakdown while living in Norway...”). “The Brotherhood of Man”--Innocence Mission. And, randomly, two 1994 albums: Indigo Girls' “Swamp Ophiela” and REM's “Monster” album. I still don't know what the frequency is, Kenneth.
Sorry haven't posted in a while. Here's a quick breakdown of the weekend that was:
Friday: Downtown after Five, free concert by Yo' Momma's Big Fat Booty Band and subsequent dancing-->quick bite at Bier Garden-->Salsa dancing at Mela's with Nate, John and Jane (don't be impressed, I didn't dance) --> booty dancing at Temptations til past 1. Note: I was in a tanktop, brown carrharts and old dirty rainbow flipflops. Total dancing outfit.
Saturday: Slept in--> “community festival” with Jane and Nant for hotdogs and people watching-->read, fretted, read, fretted-->downtown to meet up with Jess and her posse of drunk friends after their day at Brewgrass. I'd say 75% of downtown was Brewgrass patrons--> Dinner at Mamacita's-->decide to nix cabin camping plans with Jess and the crew. Too tired to deal with the really drunk-->On way back to car, meet up with Nate, Katherine and Andy-->French martini bar and best dessert EVER--> booty dancing at Temptations til past 1. These two occurrences I blame directly on Nate. He's so bootylicious he just has to dance.
Sunday-->Slept in-->met up with Jess and gang at Laughing Seed to say goodbye-->Get to see old high school friend Emily for the first time in, oh, 6 years or so-->wander downtown to peruse the shops--> Go home, change clothes, head to Nate's-->walk to Bier Garden to watch Redskins game with Nate, Anthony and Kara-->'Skins lose. I hate everyone-->all take cab to Ian and Tammy's for homemade piea night with whole gang-->Ride back to Nate's in the back of Katherine and Andy's station wagon-->watch episode of “Blackadder” with Nate-->booty dancing at Temptations til past 1 (no wait, that part I made up. I went home around 12:30 though.)
