Tuesday, December 19, 2006
landed...sort of...i think...yes; but needing to read Proverbs
I'm home now, back in Texas for the holidays. I spent the weekend in New York with Kristin. We stayed with her aunt in Forrest Hills. Saturday during the day we went into the city and saw the tree, the shop windows, etc etc. Despite the fact that it was unseasonably warm (some tourists were in shorts and tank tops) it did manage to closely resemble what I imagined Christmas in New York City to be. Enough to cross it off my list of accomplishments I created for myself a few years ago...but not enough to say that was the only time I wish to experience it. I still would like the full experience of the Manhattan/holiday season/snow/chestnuts roasting combination. Saturday night then we celebrated the second night of Hanukkah with her family...a new experience for this Baptist-born Texas kid. Just a little lighting of the candles, exchanging gifts, eating potato latkes, watching Dane Cook. You know, sticking to tradition. It was great times. Then we headed to Astoria for a Christmas party with some of her friends from college. Actually, two of the girls were from Texas. Holly was even from the tiny mecca of Marshall, where my sis is currently attending college. You know, Texas is a huge state and New York is a huge city...but it's a small world. Rumor has it a lot of us wind up there. Maybe someday I can add to those numbers. Eh, why not?
The next morning we attended church with Holly back in Astoria--a cool community church meeting in a synagogue. It was really a great service. All month long my church in Providence has been celebrating Advent, and I'm so glad that we could attend a service on this Sunday, the week before we recognize Christmas. While sitting there I realized how important it was for me. This is a season of reflection, and while I hadn't forgotten that I had been distracting myself from processing some thoughts that needed processing. The scriptures at the service were read in many different languages: English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean. It was very beautiful. Children sang; a trumpeter played. I feel like lately I have been thinking about my experiences in a new way. It's strange but it feels right, so I'm going with it. Not speculating too much on the uncertainties of current and future situations, but rather just trying my hardest to be a part of the present. I guess no better time than now to try it out. (Was that a bad joke? Was it even a joke? Oh man I don't even know anymore...hey did the lights just go out?)
So yeah: basically these days I feel like I'm a mess and I've got my shit together at the same time. It's beautiful and it's confusing and it's simple and it feels so complex. Nevertheless it's the time of the year where the days are just going to be getting longer from here on out...and that's a very encouraging thought.
After brunch it was off to the airport and then the long flight back home, where it is also warm. But this is Texas, so what's new? But ol' Dave Finfrock said colder weather is on the march and should be here soon. Just as I got used to wearing flip flops again.
Home so far has been plenty of laughter, what with both Ben and Sarah in the house with Mom and I. But it's an interesting change for me. In May when I came home halfway through my year in Providence I was able to completely forget about my life up there for a few days. Now--while it does seem very far away--I am still ready to get back and start the new year. Life has progressed to a healthier level. (Healthier? What a lame way to descibe it! Josh, you dink.)
More ready to start the new year/job/life than getting back to Providence. Looking forward to the future and being and doing. But a part of that anticipation also lies in figuring out what might be next. But for the first time in a while, I don't think I'll be in a rush to find that out. No deadlines, no pressure. Just life.
And first on that list: I have to buy a new car. A few days in New York made me wish I didn't have to, but I don't live there and reality is that I need a new car so I can drive back up to Rhode Island in a few weeks. I have some ideas, but I just don't know yet what I'm going to try and get. Leaning towards a Jetta. We'll see. Tomorrow. Or maybe later. No rush tonight. ¶ 12/19/2006 01:30:00 AM
The next morning we attended church with Holly back in Astoria--a cool community church meeting in a synagogue. It was really a great service. All month long my church in Providence has been celebrating Advent, and I'm so glad that we could attend a service on this Sunday, the week before we recognize Christmas. While sitting there I realized how important it was for me. This is a season of reflection, and while I hadn't forgotten that I had been distracting myself from processing some thoughts that needed processing. The scriptures at the service were read in many different languages: English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean. It was very beautiful. Children sang; a trumpeter played. I feel like lately I have been thinking about my experiences in a new way. It's strange but it feels right, so I'm going with it. Not speculating too much on the uncertainties of current and future situations, but rather just trying my hardest to be a part of the present. I guess no better time than now to try it out. (Was that a bad joke? Was it even a joke? Oh man I don't even know anymore...hey did the lights just go out?)
So yeah: basically these days I feel like I'm a mess and I've got my shit together at the same time. It's beautiful and it's confusing and it's simple and it feels so complex. Nevertheless it's the time of the year where the days are just going to be getting longer from here on out...and that's a very encouraging thought.
After brunch it was off to the airport and then the long flight back home, where it is also warm. But this is Texas, so what's new? But ol' Dave Finfrock said colder weather is on the march and should be here soon. Just as I got used to wearing flip flops again.
Home so far has been plenty of laughter, what with both Ben and Sarah in the house with Mom and I. But it's an interesting change for me. In May when I came home halfway through my year in Providence I was able to completely forget about my life up there for a few days. Now--while it does seem very far away--I am still ready to get back and start the new year. Life has progressed to a healthier level. (Healthier? What a lame way to descibe it! Josh, you dink.)
More ready to start the new year/job/life than getting back to Providence. Looking forward to the future and being and doing. But a part of that anticipation also lies in figuring out what might be next. But for the first time in a while, I don't think I'll be in a rush to find that out. No deadlines, no pressure. Just life.
And first on that list: I have to buy a new car. A few days in New York made me wish I didn't have to, but I don't live there and reality is that I need a new car so I can drive back up to Rhode Island in a few weeks. I have some ideas, but I just don't know yet what I'm going to try and get. Leaning towards a Jetta. We'll see. Tomorrow. Or maybe later. No rush tonight. ¶ 12/19/2006 01:30:00 AM
