Missing

I think it was Suzie that gave me the nickname of "Shuffle" due to my ability to have any number of songs in my head or spewing from my mouth at any given time. And as I sit here, worn out from the day, I wish it didn't hold true. But it does. So as these lyrics are running through my head: "You don't know what you've got, till it's gone. You don't know what it's like, till...???" I'm thinking two things.

1. I wish Ben, Sarah and Suzie were here to help me finish this song. Anybody out there remember the rest? I probably will wake up in the middle of the night bursting out the words, but for now, I'm at a loss! I need a good 80's and 90's sing-along...especially the ones that we try to translate! ;-)

2. The reason this song even came into my head in the first place, had nothing to do with what you may think. No, people were not involved. Now, I told you in my last post that I am having very random thoughts and revelations these days. So are you ready for this? ....The reason this song popped into my head was because of roadkill. Yep. You read that correctly. In my nearly 2 years in K-town, I don't think I once saw any. Why? Don't animals ever get killed there? I have no answers to these perplexing questions. I just know that this was something that I never even knew I was missing...not until it was "gone", but until it was "found"...on nearly every drive I've made thus far.

Hmm... These deep thoughts were brought to you by "The Strawberry Blonde"

You Can Never Go Home Again

That world famous quote holds true, once again, as I find myself back at my parents' house after nearly 2 years in K-town. Although I lived in this same house from the summer before my fifth grade year until high school graduation (and then some summers in between...oh yeah, and the six months before I moved overseas), it still feels a bit strange to be here. Don't get me wrong, I'm loving it...it's just funny how what should be so familiar, can all at once seem so foreign. Of course, I'm processing most of these feelings internally, because I'm pretty sure if I were to voice these crazy thoughts, people would definitely think I've gone off the deep end.

Nonetheless, I'm happy to be back. And to honor that fact, I've decided to make aTop 10 list (in no particular order) of just some of the little pleasures of life that have brought me great joy in the 3 days I've been here:
1. Sunkissed skin.
2. Bike rides.
3. Cornfields (especially as the sun sets in the evening, shining it's golden rays on the bright green stalks).
4. Talking to my friends and family on the phone and not worrying about the cost.
5. Washer and Drier--The fact that I did about 5 loads of laundry in a 3 hour period yesterday was nothing short of a miracle.
6. Food options--ice cream, grilled pork chops, sonic drinks, etc.
7. Starbucks Mint Mocha Chip Frappuccinos.
8. Air Conditioning.
9. Clean Air.
10. Fields of fireflies illuminating the night.

I'm sure I'll add to this list as the days tarry on, but for now, I'll just say....
"There's no place like home."

I hate goodbyes.

It's Friday and I'm In Love

Not really, but that song keeps running through my mind. It is a Wednesday/Friday afternoon here and we just finished another week of school and a staff meeting to boot! Now there's only one more full week to go!

So is it bad that in the midst of these final days, I'm longing to be back in the States? And maybe it's not so much to be in the States, but the benefits that can be found there.

Right now I'm really missing my friends from home...people who know me deeply and love me inspite of myself. People who I can be real with...laugh with...cry with (although you know I don't like to do that!)...be silent with...and chill with.

I'm missing my freedoms...to walk around without my head uncovered...wearing short sleeves...flip-flops. I want to go out to eat...ride my bike...play tennis...sleep in...lay out...watch a movie...eat Starbucks' Java Chip ice cream.

I know all these things are coming soon, and I'm sure when I finally reach that place, I'll wonder how the time passed so quickly. But right now, I'm feeling a little bit sad and I thought maybe verbalizing these thoughts via this blog might help me in some small way. I know I'm looking for consolation in the wrong place...I should go pray instead.