The One with the Pilgrimage: Tulsa, OK

Tulsa was my second stop and unfortunately I did not schedule myself enough time there. What a blessing it was to stay with a dear friend from many many years ago. She, along with her husband and three kiddos, welcomed me in so graciously. They cooked a scrumptious dinner of home grown zucchini and brats, made a Sonic run for shakes, goofed around with the Wii, made the couch super comfy for me, opened a seat for me at Tea Time, gifted me some discs for disc golf, and openly chatted about (hippie) life. I love that family and one night was definitely way too short of a visit.

"Oh, won't you take me from this valley to that mountain high above." - The Civil Wars

The One with the Pilgrimage: Springfield, MO

Springfield was the first of my many stops. It was nice to laugh with friends that I have not laughed with in far too long, chit chat for hours while watching neat people lay a kitchen floor, play silly games with a little gal who calls me "Aunt Jo",  eat yummy foods with friends who put up with me when I attempt to read children's books in French, share wine and frozen donuts over hysterical conversations about church and spiritual experiences, and to visit the place where I used to work and get caught up on so much.

Although I missed Andy's Frozen Custard and failed in an attempt to visit a friend working at the hospital, I did manage to squeeze in a stop at Pineapple Whip. Springfield was the perfect place to kickstart my pilgrimage and my heart was so happy and blessed by my time there.

"If nothing else I can dream."- Over the Rhine

The One with the Photo Projects

Lately, I have had the pleasure of taking on a few photo projects and I am so thrilled with the results. 

The first two projects were birthday parties for kiddos, most recent of which was for my best friend's daughter. This precious little gal is one year old already!

Aaaand, I always love taking pictures of my own pups. Remy exhausted himself playing fetch outside while I clicked like a mad woman.

The One with T.H.E.E. Camp

See Ted at Panera. Rock out to old T.H.E.E. Camp CDs. Let me fill in that gap now.

I was out at dinner with my parents last night at Panera when a big man with a very familiar face walked in. I immediately knew the face although I thought myself crazy for believing my face recognition. After checking with my mom to see if she remembered Ted from T.H.E.E. camp, and hearing “Ted” over the intercom to announce that his order was ready, I decided that I would say hi. Saying “hi” when I run into someone in public is a really big deal for me- I do not like to do it. Confession- I often chose not to even bother with it.

Although I spent little to no one on one time with Ted, he was always one of my favorite people at church camp. He played in the worship band and told awesome stories one of which I remember hearing in the cafeteria during lunch when Ted chose to sit at my table of friends one day.

That to say, I was actually excited as I approached the food counter and introduced myself as a fellow T.H.E.E. camper. The very short conversation that followed was so simple yet genuine. I am amazed at the power of people and the power of connection (especially when food is involved). We quickly connected our dots and went our blessed ways.

Considering my current feelings towards church, religion, and the like, this encounter was a breath of fresh air. It was really neat for this man, who was simply in town visiting his family and out at dinner, to accept my greeting so eagerly and ask questions about my current life versus merely dismissing me as some teeny bopper church camper high on life and God.

This is my story, this is my song…

The One with Lake Therapy

Lake therapy always comes at a good time. The times when I feel lonely, impatient, overwhelmed, and sad. Staring out over the ripples in the water is calming to my soul and my brain. Even on the lake my thoughts keep running, however, the change in atmosphere attempts to offer a different insight. Being on the boat offers uninterrupted think time. And, even more so, uninterrupted time to capture a sunburn.

It is not a new revelation, but it is one that I am finally owning up to about myself- I would rather hold on to something that is good, even if I know that better may exist, than to say goodbye. I have done this with jobs, relationships, bras, just about everything.

Another revelation that is not new to me is that happiness is a choice. That said, I feel like I should be happy about the possibility that people keep reassuring me is awaiting. Their assurance will eventually sink in as truth, I know this, but for the moment I have too many emotions to work through before I have enough courage to make the choice to be happy. Through the good memories and uncertainties looming ahead (and now the insanely uncomfortable sunburn), sometimes happiness is the most courageous decision to make for the day.

Special thanks to these two for having a special way of loving me and being there to reassure me and invite me out on the boat...

The One with the Book List: I Was Told There'd Be Cake

Ramona Quimby has been a favorite character of mine since I can remember. When I was a kid I used to read the Beverly Cleary books all the time and even checked out Ramona videos from the library. I especially loved the mystery meat video. 

Paired with "Ramona Quimby, Age 8" was a book called "I Was Told There'd be Cake". This book is a compilation of essays written from a real life twenty-something gal whose quirky ways hooked me from the first page, much as Ramona is loved for her quirks.

"I Was Told There'd be Cake" had me laughing out loud, admiring the crass description of feelings, and left me wanting to be real life friends with the author, Sloane Crosley. Sloane and I could chat about our wedding less futures over tarts. 

The One with Dizzy Possibilities

This quote is particularly true of my life right now, "All this possibility made me dizzy with a strange kind of grief."- Karen Russell

I am grieving as I say goodbye to my days at Rainbow and as I say goodbye to a fun relationship. As these things end I realize that it opens me to new possibilities, but I am not good with endings. I mean, it took me an absurd amount of time to recover and move on after I finished the Harry Potter series and those were only books. So, at least for the moment, I am left dizzy. My brain is dizzy, my heart is dizzy, my life is dizzy. I am dizzy with the choices of possibility. 

The world is mine, I can do everything or nothing, all I have to do is anything. Thanks J.M. Barrie and your story of Peter Pan for helping me with this revelation. Now, to live it...