Theme Song Of My Year.

In A Month

In a month I will be doing the following:

Laying in my new double-sized bed watching Netflix on my laptop.

Drinking out of my new coffee/tea stein.

Training my parents puppy to ring a bell to be let outside (we'll see how that goes).

Traveling to see friends in neighboring states.

RELAXING.

And then of course, updating my resume and searching for jobs. If anyone has any leads, let me know!



Life will be so different in a month. I can't wait.

Lies Don't Need An Aeroplane.

So I know when music lyrics are posted for anything, I’m quick to skim or ignore them. It’s much easier to sing along to a song than to make up the tune in your head when you’re not even sure of how it goes. That’s my personal thought on the matter, so good things this is my blog. If you agree with this statement, I promise you, these lyrics are worth the effort. Maybe I’ll post a youtube video later for those of you like me. Or, maybe not.

Weight of Lies

Disappear from you hometown
Go and find the people that you know
Show them all you good parts
Leave town when bad ones start to show
Go and wed a woman
A pretty girl that you’ve never met
Make sure she knows you love her well
But don’t make any other promises


The weight of lies will bring you down
And follow you to every town
Cause nothing happens here that doesn’t happen there
So when you run make sure you run
To something and not away from
Cause lies don’t need an aeroplane to chase you anywhere

I once heard the worse thing
A man could do is draw a hungry crowd
Tell everyone his name, pride, and confidence
But leaving out his doubt
I’m not sure I bought those words
When I was young I knew most everything
These words have never met so much to anyone
As they now mean to me

The weight of lies will bring you down
And follow you to every town
Cause nothing happens here that doesn’t happen there
So when you run make sure you run
To something and not away from
Cause lies don’t need an aeroplane to chase you down

This poignant song by the Avett Brothers, is something that helps to express my experience thus far as a volunteer living in community. I relate to these words in a different way, in that being with people in such a concentrated way can bring about beautiful change, but can also convey the worst in you. Turning away and running from the ugly and unwanted side of a person or yourself builds walls that become barriers and aren’t easily torn down. This doesn’t allow for authentic relationships to be built. So, I guess what I’m saying is, maybe I wish I would have tried harder this year. But then again, maybe I did as best I could.

Just some simmering thoughts I’m having.

Thumbs Down

To go along with my previous post, I realized upon waking this morning that the rest of my time here is going to be one prolonged goodbye.

That sucks!

5 More Weeks

With 5 weeks left of Baltimore time, and recently returning from a vacation in Ohio (that’s right-Ohio) where friends and family members abound, I am pretty read y to be done here. But alas, 5 more weeks wait to be completed before that can happen. Now I’m very much thinking about my next steps and adventures. A few opportunities have arisen, but definitely nothing concrete. However, this does bring me some comfort knowing that others are looking out and want to help me readjust to life after volunteering. There’s still a lot to do that I’ve put off, but I’ll get around to it.

Still, there are 5 more weeks.

Home

I am home.

I am sitting in my living room, watching Good Will Hunting on Netflix, still getting over the surprise that my parents actually got a dog they are allowing in the house and overjoyed at the fact that I get to spend time with so many friends this week.

Aah, this is the life.

The Happiness July Brings

Dear World,

Thank you for making the month of July in Baltimore SO fantastic thus far. I've thoroughly enjoyed every moment. Really, this whole summer has been a constant continuation of bliss, one form right after the other. A quick recap is in order, for those who are curious and for me to process all the fun times I've been enjoying.

Now, where to start? The end of June brought in a swell of adventure with a weekend bus trip to the Big Apple. Exploring the city, staying with fellow Menno volunteers and walking miles upon miles made the time feel short but satisfactory (especially after my feet swelled to sizes bigger than my shoes).

Then July happened.

It's been a whirlwind of fun events, listed below in chronological order:

House-sitting for a good part of a month
First Thursdays free concert in Mt. Vernon Park
Pirate Cruise
Independence Day in Washington D.C.
Being a part of multiple sessions of affirmation and appreciation
Cookout hosted at the House Sitting House, complete with a Little Debbie birthday cake
Consuming Rosemary Garlic Fries
Sailing in the Chesapeake Bay off of St. Michaels, MD
Camping at Assateague State Park with wild ponies
Visiting Ocean City, MD for a bit during a downpour
Watching the World Cup Final and more free concerts in Patterson Park
Harry Potter movie marathon

And more is yet to come!

Mates of State concert?
A visit home to O-H-I-O
Two of my best friend's wedding (to each other)
More house sitting

July, I love you. Stay classy.