Friday, December 03, 2010

Daily 5 - Year 2, Day 110

Today's Daily 5:
  1. 1 year, 110 days of making these lists
  2. working with my brother for a bit today
  3. turkey and swiss pannini with cranberry
  4. coming "home" to mom and dad's after a crazy busy day at work and finding a chef salad, made just for me, waiting.
  5. bubble bath and reading a novel

Reverb 10: Day 3 - Most Alive

Today's Reverb10 prompt:


December 3 – Moment.
Pick one moment during which you felt most alive this year. Describe it in vivid detail (texture, smells, voices, noises, colors).
(Author: Ali Edwards)


I walked off an airplane and into a hug.  Into the arms of someone I'd never met.


I spotted her as I was walking up above, before leaving the secure area. Nerves hit and I ducked into the bathroom for a moment to collect myself.  One last whispered, "I hope this wasn't totally crazy, be with me in the coming week" prayer, and I emerged, descended the escalator with my bags, and walked into that hug.


I was dressed for traveling - jeans, a coral colored hoodie, my favorite white scarf, running shoes.  Practical clothes.  Comfortable and warm for an airplane environment that is never comfortable or warm.


I was in desperate need of an escape, and we'd become close friends via blogging and emails and a few gmail chats.  When I wrote asking if she was up for a visitor, and she said come, I did.  Booked tickets and packed a bag and got on a plane.


I don't do things like that.


I spent the flight figuring out new things.  First international border crossing on my own.  Navigating a new airport.  Figuring out customs declaration forms.  Convincing myself that the idea quite a few people around me had deemed crazy - getting on a plane to spend a week with someone whose voice I'd never even heard - wasn't actually crazy.  And sorting out contingency plans just in case it was actually crazy.  (I do do things like that.  I'm all about the contingency plans.)


I've been hanging onto the memory of that hug and the week that followed.  All of the laughter and tears and conversation it contained.  It was a week that I hoped would lead to time to think and pray and make decisions.  All of that happened, and my life has taken a positive turn because of it.


Because I got on an airplane and did something I just don't do.


Because I spent a week with a friend, laughing and eating and touring and getting to know the in person parts of each other, past the written stuff we'd spent the previous two years sharing.


That week, I felt alive.  Walking through the mission gardens, standing by the water, riding "Pirates" at Disneyland, wandering the garment district, eating new foods - Mizithra, steak, Monte Cristo sandwiches, and Godiva cheesecake.


In a year that has been full of the miserable moments, that week is special.  That week I had time to breathe and regroup.  That week was the beginning of this whole new work that God is doing.  His timing and hands were in it, and I'm so glad I went with the little part of my gut that said that getting on the plane - that thing I just don't do - was the best thing I could possibly do.

Busy Friday

I'm stealing a few minutes while I eat lunch to pop in here.  I'll be back later tonight with the reverb10 prompt for the day, and of course the daily 5.

It's a busy day today.  A local radio station is doing a toy and turkey drive (Toykey - say that 10 times fast!) for us today, and so people are running around like mad, collecting and sorting donations.

I've got to say that as someone who generally doesn't love the Christmas season, working for a charitable organization during Christmas is kind of fun.  I'm still loving the fact that I make tons and tons of happy calls a day.  I'm working with some pretty incredible people who really believe that they can and will make a difference in our city.  It's not a bad way to spend the Christmas season, all in all.

This morning I worked for several hours inventorying toys, and I'm doing paperwork for a few minutes before heading back to the inventorying duties.  Not a bad way to spend a Friday, either - up and moving around.

This weekend includes my usual routine of having a two night "sleepover" at my parent's house, to escape my crazy living situation for a little bit and have a chance to rest.  It's a full weekend, with appointments and time with friends, and celebrating the fact that one of my dear friends is going to welcome a child to her family sometime early in the new year.  And then Sunday, Sunday is for bus reading, or maybe the zoo, or both.  And that time will be just what I need as well.