Take me home, country roads

I'm not from West Virginia. But for most of my life, country roads have led to my home of the moment.
I've moved a lot, and several times in college I had to call my parents for directions home. So, home for me is not a place, but a feeling, memories of times and people who guided and shaped me.

I was talking with some friends about what is the best idea for a first appointment to a church. Now, I don't want to be appointed to a church, but they do. And their position was that being an associate at a larger church is good because it offers a mentoring atmosphere. Plus, there's the whole city vs. country thing -- it seems it's hard to find a mate as a minister in a small town.

I argued for the smaller church, the smaller town. Country roads. People whose families have lived in that place for generations. Stores owned by real people who say hello and remember your name. Friends who live on streets named after their relatives. Folks who will invite you to eat homecooked Sunday dinner with their families.

Don't get me wrong, I love living in Atlanta. And parts of it feel so right to me. But I feel at home when I drive along the backroads in South Carolina or the canopy roads in Tallahassee, when I walk along the Market in Charleston, when I see miles and miles flat farmland and black dirt in Minnesota, when I turn onto my grandmother's street in Gainesville.

Moving into a small town, you are bound to be an outsider for a while. Perhaps quite a while. But I want those friends to know that in this case, being the minister affords you some grace. And once you get the rhythm of the place, it's home. Home for a while. And then you leave. Because that's what Methodist ministers do. As the daughter of two of them, I've been an outsider most of the time. And I left a lot of times.

I started over a lot of times, and that means that I don't have the same kind of friendships that other people have. Recently, I contacted some folks I went to elementary school with. Immediately, I realized how weird that was. For me, they were my friends from ages 6-10. For them, I was a girl who was there a few years and then moved away. Most of their friends stayed.

For me, friendship doesn't end when contact dissapates. Just because I don't see someone anymore, that doesn't mean I love them any less or value their impact on my life any less. If that were the case, I wouldn't have much. Perhaps it's the sheer volume of people who have been important to me that makes it less likely that I will keep in touch. Perhaps I am a terrible friend, but I hope that's not it. I hope that people can understand that I can't possibly keep in touch with all the people that I love. But the lack of contact also doesn't mean that I would be any less responsive if they needed me.

All of this means that I get very excited when I see anyone from my past. Overly excited. And I bet that is overwhelming for them. But my feelings for old friends don't change or fade in their absence from my daily life. This can create a disconnect, since I hold the person that I knew then dear, but I don't really know the person who is now. But I know that we are all becoming, not being, and it's exciting to see the changes in people's lives.

And man are there changes. At Christmas, I got more than one family photo card from college friends. My friends have kids, and dogs, and houses, and real jobs. Life is so amazing, and I feel so blessed to get to see so many sides of it. I am so blessed to love so many people. Even if they don't know it.

Country roads, take me home to the place I belong...

Stupid Grad School

Making me write papers and read stuff.

I have a colloquy paper (2-3 pages)
and a book review type paper (4-5 pages)
due tomorrow.
I have not started them.
I have read some stuff, but certainly not all the stuff.
I believe I shall fail...

So, here are my favorite crayon names*
from the 48 count Crayola box on our coffee table:
Mauvelous (malvavilloso, mauveilleux)
Naranja rojizo (red orange, orange-rouge)
Dandelion (diente de leon, pissenlit)
Purple mountain's majesty (montanos purpuras majestuosas, majestueuses monagnes pourpres)
Macaroni and cheese (macarrones con queso, macaroni au fromage)
Granny smith apple (manzana granny smith, pomme granny smith)

*all the colors are in 3 languages now, except for chestnut, lavender, salmon, tumbleweed, mahogany, melon, tan, sky blue, and spring green.

Please note that these are my favorite names, not colors, of crayons.

Happy Heart Day!

I hope you (my two readers) are having a delightful Valentine's Day!
Regardless of romantic status, know that you are loved.*
Enjoy the wind and sun on your face, take a minute to watch the birds and squirrels in the trees, soak in the beauty of the world.*
Have a wonderful day, full of love and laughter!*


*Here are classic Beth moments of pure cheesiness -- it happens less and less, but on Valentine's Day it has resurfaced!

Dinner at Taco Mac with Nikki, Josh, Bob and Joy from college. Ah, the memories, the laughter, the loud sports bar ambience... 

Vehicular Vascillation

So, I might finally get to pick out my own car.

Mine has bad brakes and
a gas leak they couldn't find,
plus some bad belts
and a problem with the exhaust system.
All that adds up to more than this
1992 Dodge Spirit is worth.

Now, I had almost this exact same car
in high school/early college --
it was a white four door Plymouth Acclaim.
I crashed the first one into a tree.
I ran this one into the ground.

A woman from school emailed me about a car
her aunt is selling for $1000.
She emailed me several times
telling me the details and recent repairs of the car.
In the last email, she finally mentioned the make/model:
1992 gold Plymouth Acclaim.

Now, the cheap, guilt-filled parts of me
feel like I should get it.
I have no desire to ever own this kind of car again.
I want a cute, little Honda/Toyota/Nissan
that will run forever
and fit into tiny parking places.
For less than $3000.
Wish me luck!


(for now, I'm driving Mom's minivan again...
if anyone needs to move, now is the time...)

What's Goin' On...

Projects, of sorts:
- organizing a Spring Break trip to NYC that I'm not going on, but which should rock
- trying to finish Christmas packages to send to midwestern relatives

Homework:
- reading, at least I ought to be
- two short assignments for tomorrow, require above mentioned reading

Work:
- tutoring 8 kids
- babysitting
- leading craft nights at the Religious Life Apartment

Misc.:
- sitting in my comfy new desk chair
- dying to watch last night's Gilmore Girls (I had class)
- thinking about what to eat for lunch
- wearing pajamas at noon
- looking at my insanely messy desk

blah blah blah

Do the Right Thing

Best Career for Your Zodiac Sign?
This is from CareerBuilder.com, but I got it in a forward. I'm pisces, and it fits me pretty well, except for the music part.

Everyone glances at their horoscopes once in a while. We love to be amazed when they seem to describe us to a "T" and simply ignore them when they don’t pertain to us at all. After consulting the stars (along with www.findyourfate.com), here is a list of zodiac signs, along with their characteristic personality traits and suggestions for career options that best fit the signs’ astrological profiles.

Aries (March 21-April 19) You are enthusiastic, alert, outspoken, ambitious, strong-willed and creative. A career in television or radio, advertising or architecture would suit your ambitious and creative nature. Because you are a strong, natural leader, the military or law enforcement would also serve you well.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) A Taurus is practical, methodical, determined, patient, honest, dependable and a good team player. Look to the fields of banking, accounting and scientific research for your perfect job.

Gemini (May 21-June 21) You are very optimistic, inquisitive, intelligent and full of energy. You need a vocation that keeps your interest piqued and keeps you going, such as a travel guide, nature explorer or a sales position where travel is required.

Cancer (June 22-July 22) Cancers are imaginative, dramatic, philosophical, nurturing and protective. You’re best at dispensing advice, so consider law, psychology, teaching, nursing or social work for your life’s vocation.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) You are spontaneous, gregarious, independent and born to lead, with a true lust for power. These magnetic qualities make Leos good CEOs, managers, editors and perfect for government positions.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Precise, witty, cheerful, perfectionist, detail-oriented, hard-working and neat, with a knack for languages -- all describe you. Technician, statistician, medical researcher, investigator or translator are perfect career options for Virgos.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Libras are very diplomatic, charming, sociable, easy-going and cooperative. Your sense of cooperation and ability to engineer a compromise mean you would do well in the United Nations or as a lawyer, mediator, negotiator or administrator.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) You are penetratingly intuitive, intelligent, analytical, hard working, motivated and resourceful. Because you like to solve mysteries, consider espionage, police investigation, law, physics, research and writing.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Sagittarians have a positive attitude, boundless energy, love of travel and a strong spiritual side. A sales position would be ideal, as would public relations, social administration or theology.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) You are rock-solid, dependable, responsible, highly organized, goal-oriented, logical and clever. You thrive in positions of power or any vocation where math or money is involved. Consider an IT position because you love software and computers. You are also well-suited for being a doctor, accountant or lawyer.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Intelligent, original, progressive, humanitarian and visionary are all qualities that describe Aquarians. Choose a job in astronomy, natural history, aviation, photography, poetry, character acting or music.

Pisces ( Feb. 19-March 20) Pisces are generous, friendly, sensitive, popular, artistic, versatile, compassionate and spiritual. You will do well in any of the arts: drama, literature, painting, music, but your compassion also makes you well-suited for philanthropy and judicial positions.
Copyright 2005 CareerBuilder.com