Even with my looming sense of wanderlust, I'm finding myself thinking about Traverse City a lot.

It's where my friends and I grew up, where my friends are going to get married, and holds a lot of history.

I'd like to watch a movie at the State Theatre, sip coffee at Horizon Books, shop at Zany, and walk along the bay - the perfect remedy for the winter blues.

Ever have that feeling, Darcy , that your life, your true work, has not yet begun?
Ever feel like you're here for something more than you've yet identified? And that a billion eyes are upon you, just waiting for the prophecy to unfold?
Hmmmmmm.......
And, have you also ever wanted something so badly that all your wishing, hoping, and praying kept you from seeing that you had it all along?

Precisely,

The Universe

These messages are like a big kick in the butt every morning. I know that they go out to millions of people every Monday - Friday, but they always are applicable to where I'm at.

I had the time of my life this weekend - hockey game on Friday, reggae party on Saturday, church and lunch on Sunday with fantastic friends. But for whatever reason, Sunday afternoon left me feeling static. I need constant reminders that The Universe has great things in store for me and to be thankful for what's already in front of me. It's a common theme lately. Am I part of this generation that's never satisfied with anything? How come I'm always wanting more? It's not necessarily a bad thing, but I'm not sure what it is that will make everything whole.

Last night I attended Hope's Visiting Writer's Series and heard memoirist Melissa Delbrigde read from her book Family Bible. She started the evening by saying, "If you think this is a religious book then you're wrong, but I don't think you'll leave the auditorium with your hair in flames of anything."

"Melissa Delbridge won the GLCA New Writers Award for Family Bible, her critically acclaimed memoir of growing up along the banks of the Black Warrior River in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. In a starred review, Booklist calls the memoir “as much a cultural history of the South as a history of [Delbridge’s] own life” and claims, “Fans of Carson McCullers won't want to miss this one--witty, tragic, and relentlessly wise.” Delbridge lives with her family in Orange County, North Carolina, and works as an archivist in the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library at Duke University."

It just so happened that Melissa, the Visiting Writer interns, a Hope prof. and her family, and a few of my closest friends and I ended up going down the street to have drinks together. Spending time with this beautifully talented woman reminded me that Hope can be a fantastic place that provides it's community with wonderful opportunities. This firecracker of a woman spoke about her personal life, made jokes right along with us, shared pictures from her iphone, and took all of our pictures and email address at the end of the night. I hardly know this woman, but she gave me a huge hug and a kiss on the cheek and said, "Thanks sweetie. It was so nice to meet you." This southern bell inspired me and captured my heart.

I miss...

I am so lucky to be blessed with so many fantastic friends that know me inside and out and have been through a lot with me.

It's just hard when we're spread all over the place. I'm constantly "friendsick," much like the feeling you get when you're homesick.

(http://www.kellyraeroberts.blogspot.com/)

First, Darcy , completely forget about who, how, and when.

Then, decide only upon what you want, the end result, with as much clarity as possible.

I'll shuffle the deck, the magic show will begin, and jokers won't be all that are wild.
Gosh, you're so much fun to watch when you read these things.

Deal,

The Universe

I haven't really had the words lately to describe how I've been feeling. Maybe it's this seasonal mood thing, but I've been trying to surround myself with my favorite things in attempt to keep myself grounded and in this reality.

I've been loving:

• walks with Seth
• hot chocolate with soy milk from Lemonjellos
• time with my dog
• heart to hearts with Anna - including the tears
• Ben & Jerry's fair trade coffee ice cream with toffee chunks
• kickboxing class
• emails from Joel in Thailand
• reading blogs of brave women (any more suggestions?)
• Californication & Dawson's Creek (weird combination & definitely opposites!)
• winter music mix by Ben and I

and I need to be better about calling back my dear friends. I don't know why I've been shying away from this because these calls can only bring me joy. It's frustrating because I feel like I'll spill open when I talk to these people, but I know that things are good overall and that I'm ok.

Anna introduced me to Mark Morford, a writer for the SF Gate.

An interesting look at the world today:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2010/01/29/notes012910.DTL

Bird Stealing Bread

by Iron & Wine

tell me, baby, tell me

are you still on the stoop

watching the windows close?

i've not seen you lately

on the street by the beach

or places we used to go

i've a picture of you

on our favorite day

by the seaside

there's a bird stealing bread

that i brought

out from under my nose

tell me, baby, tell me

does his company make light of a rainy day?

how i've missed you lately

and the way we would speak

and all that we wouldn't say