The Braves dugout. They lost, but it was amazing being that close. I love baseball. I mean it. I love it. 

Francoeur and A. Jones, my favorites, in the same picture... 

Jeff Francoeur batting again. So close. 

Andruw was on second. There was a conference on the mound and all the infielders came to talk to Andruw. They were just all hanging out. 

Seriously, I was close. And I was giddy about it. I love baseball. 

Dontrelle Willis hitting for the Marlins.  

This is a way more fun picture of Andruw hitting. (I took 73 pictures...) 

This one's for Dana. 

And there's Jeffrey.  

Andruw hitting. I was so close I almost couldn't stand it.

Adam LaRoche batting. He stands up quite straight... 

This is how close my seat was at the baseball game tonight. The guy on the left in the striped shirt is Don and next to him is his wife, and they gave me the tickets. They pretty much rock. 

Remembering

Five years ago, I was just starting my US-2 experience
training for the job.
On a break from the employment readiness program,
a co-worker told me about the planes that his buildings
and the theories that had begun to formulate.
I sat in my car and listened to NPR
until I had to go back inside.

I held a prayer vigil the next night
in the parking lot of the shelter
where I lived and worked.

That Sunday,
I went to the big steeple church downtown.
We sang patriotic hymns and
in the sermon the minister repeated the phrase
"America will prevail."
I did not feel better.

I felt detached in the next weeks.
I had no tv access, so I missed the onslaught of images.
I bought newspapers and magazines.
I listened to NPR.
I tried to understand, to get a sense of what was happening.

I was learning about the business of social work,
working with homeless parents,
playing with precious kids,
talking with volunteers.
The work I came to do
did not change because of the attack.

Almost two years later,
I hobbled around NYC on crutches,
my right knee recovering
from being crumbled when I crashed my car.
I stood with Kristin at the site
trying to glimpse the hole where the towers had been.
I sat in the church across the street
that had housed, fed, and cared for the rescue workers.
I shook my head at the tables
where people sold souveniers.
I took a picture with some firemen
and construction workers.
I didn't make eye contact
with the machine-gun toting police officers.


My life has changed in the last 5 years.
Then, I was just learning about homelessness
as an accidental missionary.
Now, I'm taking a non-profit leadership class
in seminary.
Then, I was the resident manager in a shelter/self-sufficiency program.
Now, I am a campus minister and theology student with 2 roommates.
Then, I had just moved to Tallahassee.
Now, I've been in Atlanta for over 2 years.
There are other differences.
I'm not ready to talk about all of them.
But some are wonderful, and some make me really sad.

Time passes.

Overwhelm

There are times
when you realize that your life
will not be what you thought.

Another Installment

Of the Most Fun Spammer Names:

Monarchs H. Reopened
Hushed T. Courtesy
Flood V. Sanitizes
fatness children
Operand R. Beachcomber
Aquaplanes K. Friskiness
Bishopric E. Pulse
Spacious V. Mosque
Leftism G. Compunction
Gigabytes B. Proprietorship

I Love Live Music

I know I've said it before,
but I really dig seeing shows.

I went to open mic night last night at Eddie's,
and two of the women who played then
played again tonight.
I liked them enough that I went back tonight to see them.
Abi Tapia and Rebecca Loebe. They are lovely.

On Friday, Dana, Candace and I
went to Smith's Olde Bar
for Open Mic Madness
to support the Redaction.
It was great fun, and we heard
some delightful
and some cRazY
bands.

I dig live music.
I love being an audience member.

I'm totally stoked because two guys I can't wait to hear
are coming to Eddie's the next two weekends.
Ward Williams will be there next Friday
and Jay Clifford will play Saturday after next.
They are my Jump boys, and I am so excited to see them.
Ward is quirky and funny and a bit more country/folksy than Jump.
He was the cello player.
Jay was the lead vocalist
and his voice is a-maz-ing.
Ah.



p.s. This post is full of hyperlinks. I don't often do that. Ha. Rock on. No, for real -- Rock on.

Like a Fish in the Water, Like a Bird in the Air

Tonight is our first real event.
I'm a campus minister.
We're cooking out.
I love cooking out.

This morning I got called to the front
at Worship and recognized as part of
"we, the campus ministers"
who bid blessing upon the incoming students.

I'm diggin' the job
and part of me wishes I could just do it
and not take classes this year.
But never fear, I am ready for my 3rd year.
I dig my school a lot,
and I have good classes this year
(just a lot of them left to take!).
I don't want to forfeit any of the experience
and enrichment it has to offer.

Anyway, I like my job.

Life Now

Duplicity.

My job is good.
I have no real supervisor
so it's self-directed
which has been good
but I need to get a move on.
Orientation events start Saturday
and I have meals and games to plan.

I'm sad.
It's a long time
of being essentially happy.
And now I'm essentially sad.
Sad is very un-Beth.
You know I hate Lent.
I am stuck in my own Lent.
Only I can't chart the time to Easter
there's no resurrection in sight.

I went to Charleston. 

He went to Paris...