back home?

Darc, my Mom and I left this afternoon. I'm headed back home to chicago. I think I'm ready though, home's there now. I just need to figure things out, like finding an internship, etc etc. It'll all work out, so I'm told. It's nice to have some people behind you, like my aunt. She thinks I should take the foreign service exam an become a foreign service worker. I'm not sure I'm up for it, but it'd give me something to work towards, to study for. I'll have to study a ton, and I need to keep up my grades this semester. 

Home for Xmas.

A few reflections, highlights, and updates...

• Mom's van got towed on wednesday because of the snowstorm. She sees it as being a little expensive parking, it's $100 to have it parked at Bruender's Auto Body til Sunday!
• Trista got in touch with Mary Beth, the head animal investigator of the Humane Society.  Tris will possibly fulfill a dream of working for them as an animal investigator.. we'll all cross our fingers for her that it works out! 
• Darc is looking at grad schools, but before she goes to grad school, she'll be in detroit for at least three months with Covenant House.
• Sheila's gave everyone pedicures. Mom hired her to give them to us as xmas presents. Thanks Mom and Sheila!
• LOTR marathon.. each family member is given a LOTR character equivalent. Results aren't scientific, and are debatable. 
• Gerald showed up unexpectedly Christmas eve eve morning. We didn't think he'd come because of the weather, but he came bursting through the door and we were overjoyed! 
• Nique came over, bringing christmas cheer to everyone if anyone was lacking. She's really into webkins, and was on the virtual pet website ALL day. Today Mom gave her two new white terriers (webkin terriers) for Xmas. That reminds me, I miss Charlie and Toby!! 
• Dad gave all of us socks from Vermont. He's got to go out each time and comes back with his arms full of socks and unloads them into our laps and a fifty dollar bill he tosses on top of the pile. It isn't unexpected or out of character for him to do it this way, in fact it's exactly the way I'd expect him to give me a gift. I love the socks too, they're quality and made in the USA. Thanks Dad!
• Aunt Carolyn reads letters from Grandpa Burl to Grandma during WWII. He wrote them while in California, where he was an airplane mechanic. The letters all began with language like My darling Harriet.. He wrote that he didn't think the war was good for people in love, and spoke of the monotony and how he wished the months would sprout wings. It was in the days of spelling bees, and baseball games, and corn whisky. Also, the days of Mussolini and Hitler, my grandpa cited a song playing on the radio, of a dialogue between two fascist dictators. 
• ... I never met Grandpa,  only saw pictures, and he was always dreamy but I didn't realize how dreamy he actually was until hearing the letters he wrote to grandma. I'm glad she didn't burn all of the letters after he died, maybe she forgot about them or kept them on purpose, either way I'm glad these last few were saved. Words written down and saved are priceless. They capture more than a sentiment, but a time, a place, a culture, a society. I think I'll start writing more letters, and saving more of the ones I receive. 

 

maybe this will help..

So, I've been feeling this urge to write more, and not because I feel like other people should read it, but mostly for myself, to stay more connected. We'll see how it goes.
It's been raining a whole lot lately. And it's getting cold. I complain, but secretly I like it, the seasons changing because with it I feel like I too can change, if I want to. If I want to. Like I mentioned before, I want to be more connected. Yesterday I did yoga, I'll be getting a yoga mat soon, so I can do it at home. And I've been going for more runs outside, stopping at the river, at a dead end, and then at water's elementary where there's a garden. These things are helping..