Up, Up, and Away

Here goes.

Some words for the road from my dear friend Beth:

Lord,

I believe my life is touched by you,

that you want something for me and of me.

Give me ears to hear you,

eyes to see the tracing of your finger,

and a heart quickened by the motions of your spirit

Eternal God,

Lead me now out of the familiar setting of my doubts and fears,

beyond my pride and need to be secure

into a strange and graceful ease with my true proportions and with yours than in boundless silence

I may grow strong enough to endure and fleible to share your grace.

Breathe into me the courage to make something new

Thank you for all I forget are gifts, not rights

Forgive me for all the grievances I remember well

Save me from self-pity, the self seeking the fat heartedness which is true poverty.

Guide me if I'm willing. (Drive me if I'm not)

into the hard ways of sacrifice which are just and loving.

Make me wide-eyed for beauty,

and for my neighbors needs and goodness

wide willed for peace making and for the confronting power

with the call to compassion

wide-hearted for love and for the unloved

who are the hardest to touch and need it the most.

dull the envy in me which criticizes and complains life into a thousand ugly bits.

keep me honest and tender enough to heal,

tough enough to be healed of my hypocrisies

match my appetite for privilege with a stomach for commitment

Teach me the great cost of paying attention that,

naked to the dazzle of your back as you pass,

Breathe into me the restlessness and courage to make something new,

something saving and something true that I may understand what it is to rejoice.

Big Girl Pants

When you're about 4 years old, you get invited to your first sleepover. You pack up your pink Spotty-Dotty backpack with your scooby-doo pj's, your Barbie toothbrush, your blue blankie, and all the toys you can cram into it. You wait at the window until your friend's mom comes to pick you up in her mini-van, and when she finally gets to your house, your mom double-checks your backpack, makes you leave your Polly Pockets at home, reminds you to clear your plate, gives you one last hug, and says the magic words:

"If you change your mind, just call me and I'll come pick you up and bring you home, okay?"

And you giggle and tell mommy that she's being silly, that you won't need her to come pick you up, that you're a big girl now. But, deep down, you feel better knowing that comfort and familiarity will only be a phone call away.

And then, all of a sudden, you're nineteen years old, and about to leave for another continent. There are a lot of similarities: your suitcase is stuffed with things you probably won't need, but can't bear to leave behind. Your calendar is crossed-off, counting down the days. Your parents check and double-check your packing list.

But there's one big difference:

You are a big girl now, and this time there are no magic words this time. Sure, if there's an emergency you can come home, but it has to be more than "their couch smelled funny and I forgot my special pillow."

I know once I get there I will love it. But in these last few hours before takeoff, I could sure use some magic words.

Introductions

Meet McDuff.
McDuff likes Lady Gaga.
McDuff dances to Lady Gaga.
McDuff gets embarrassed when I catch him dancing to Lady Gaga.

This is P.V.

P.V. stands for "Piss and Vinegar"

P.V. knows what suitcases mean.
P.V. has abandonment issues.
P.V thinks that if she stays still, I'll forget she's there and take her with me.

Ten Things....

Today marks my last day as an employee of the Sutter Creek Ice Cream Emporium. It's bittersweet, really. On one hand, it means I'm one step closer to the next step, but on the other, this place has seen me from gangly 17-year old clueless highs chool junior...to still gangly 19-year old, still clueless, college sophomore.

...okay, so to me it's more meaningful...

To commemorate my three years at the SCICE, I have compiled a list of how best to be a "memorable" customer:

1. Never say please. Ever.
2. Rearrange the chairs. And the tables. And the centerpieces. And when you leave, just go ahead and leave your chair in the middle of the aisle. Really.
3. No scoop should be the right size, no matter what. A child's scoop is too small, naturally, and you couldn't possibly finish a whole single scoop. Why would they think that? You know, the best way to settle this is to get angry. Really, really angry. Ask to see the manager, she has nothing going on, after all.
4. Order a double scoop for your 4-year-old. In fact, order it on a sugar cone. Even better? Insist that he doesn't need a napkin.
5. If your food isn't ready in less than a minute, by all means, march back into the kitchen and demand to know what's taking so long.
6. Change your order no less than three times.
7. Pay for a pack of gum with a twenty.
8. Pay for a sandwich with dimes and quarters.
9. Allow your children free reign of the toy display and card racks. The stickier their fingers, the better.
10. Order everything in "to go" containers, then leave them on the tables.

11. [Bonus] Tell your server how to do his or her job. They certainly don't have a clue.

Long Overdue

If you look to the side of this page, you should see a list of links. At the top is Hometown Radio. This is where I spent the half of my summer not spent scooping ice cream. It's a local radio station specializing in Oldies, local news, and down-home goodness. If you tune in [by clicking the link] you might catch some of my "Fair 2010 Highlights." They've been kind enough to let me invade the studio for the summer, and they linked this blog to their homepage, so the least I can do is return the favor.

La Familia Mendéz

I've been exchanging emails with my host family for a few days now, and the more I hear from them, the more excited I am to meet them, and the better I feel about the trip as a whole.

Mama Maritza - my main contact, she likes to cook, and is looking forward to taking me to the market so I can teach her "como comer mas sano." She also asked what percent vegetarian I am.

Papa Cesar - is more hip than I am. He emails from his Blackberry. He's very adamant that "Cuando estés con nosotros seras un miembro mas de nuestra familia."

Los Hermanos - Stephanie is my amiga de facebook, she just had a birthday (the same day as my fellow traveler and future roommate, Beth). Jessica is in Africa right now, I hope she comes home before Christmas, so I can meet her. Cesar II like Glee and the Beatles



In other news, my Visa is in the mail, my classes are requested, and my bag is packed (sort of). 11 more days!

Tale of an Unexpected Encounter

Dear Diary,
I know that I have neglected you, and that there are many updates due. However, this story takes the cake.

The scene: The Sutter Creek Ice Cream Emporium

The time: 5 minutes until I lock the door for the last time.

The characters: Myself, a nice man named Joe, his lady friends Wendy and DeeDee (my apologies on the spelling), and a pretty awesome Higher Power

A nice man named Joe (he was wearing a nametag) came in with two nice ladies, Wendy and DeeDee, right before I locked up last night. Joe wanted to know my name, didn't believe me when I told him (that's okay Joe, I get that a lot), and we got to talking about school. Naturally, I told them about my impending adventure, and they were all very interested, especially when I mentioned "Holy Spirit University" (it was about this time that I noticed that Joe was wearing a "work and witness" polo). By the end of their visit, these three beautiful people not only blessed me with a scholarship (which will be going towards Malaria inhibitors), but also asked to pray over me.

The whole exchange was a pleasant reminder that I am in bigger and more capable hands than my own. Thank goodness.