The farewell tour
It's been an amazing couple of weeks, so I wanted to write about it before I leave. Which is happening in...JOLIN, 4 and a half days...
So, I headed back to the midwest mid-April. First, I got to spend some time in Cleveland, getting oriented for work and meeting the folks in charge here in the US. I am so excited about this job! It's very energizing to talk with smart people who are passionate about making a difference in the world. Lots of it was logistics stuff, and I am feeling more ready to jump in. I also had this moment of total peace, after all my meetings I stopped in the chapel on campus, and had one of those moments of clarity where I just knew that I was where I needed to be. I know this job is going to be tough, but the fit is right and I am ready to go.
Next, it was on to Chicago. I got to see my aunt and some of my cousins (including awesome bonding with my littlest cousin, six-year-old Sammy, who is the cutest kid ever). Also got to go downtown and say goodbye to one old friend and several new-er (internship year) ones. Went to hear a talk given by a very cool priest and had a nice short talk with him afterward. Then I headed down for a few days in Champaign. I got into town just in time for Mass at St. John's, with the best church music I'd heard in a long, long time. The choir sounded amazing. I was rather nervous about the "my dissertation is not done but I'm still leaving the country" talk with my advisor, but he was very supportive and we've got a plan in place to finish that sucker. I also got to stay with my dear friends Anna and Sarah, and see many other folks in Champaign. It was joyful though a little sad, since lots of them are also moving on, and who knows when we'll all be back in the same city again.
Next stop - back to Chicago, where I loaded up many of the boxes that had been living in my aunt's basement. It was pretty amazing what my little Toyota could hold - I wish I'd taken a picture. The poor car was barely off the ground, but it made it over the mountains of West Virginia and back in one piece. First, though, the day I was leaving I drove up to Mundelein for an early morning breakfast with friend and seminarian Bobby. I'd never been before and the campus was gorgeous. We crossed paths at first so I ended up walking down to this huge lake, that has piers jutting right out into it. The trees were blooming and this fresh breeze was coming in off the water - it was spectacular. Getting to see Bobby was wonderful. From there, I headed out to Athens, OH, to see another grad school buddy and spend the night before finally making it back to VA.
Once back in VA, there was one more trip - down to good old C'ville, to see my dear high school friend Amy and her three little boys. They were a blast! It was so neat to see what an amazing mom she is. Sometimes, there are friend who you know will always be your friends. Even if way too much time passes between visits, when you're back together things just click and that same caring is there. I feel so lucky to have friends like that, especially given how nomadic my life has been for the past few years.
On the ride back from C'ville (also beautiful - the green rolling hills and blossoming trees and horses running through the fields made me all nostalgic for Virginia even before I left) I found out that yet another dear friend was going to be in DC, so I got a suprise visit with him - yay! And got to spend some time with my best friend and her daughter - double yay!
And now, I'm in that stage of frantically packing my bags and getting a partial draft for my advisor and making sure all my paperwork is in order. But I'm so grateful for the past few weeks. I wish that I had had more time out there - I definitely did not see everyone I wanted to see - but it was an amazing trip. Through all of this, I just felt so supported, like my batteries were in a giant charger, storing up the warmth and strength and love for the challenges ahead.
So, I headed back to the midwest mid-April. First, I got to spend some time in Cleveland, getting oriented for work and meeting the folks in charge here in the US. I am so excited about this job! It's very energizing to talk with smart people who are passionate about making a difference in the world. Lots of it was logistics stuff, and I am feeling more ready to jump in. I also had this moment of total peace, after all my meetings I stopped in the chapel on campus, and had one of those moments of clarity where I just knew that I was where I needed to be. I know this job is going to be tough, but the fit is right and I am ready to go.
Next, it was on to Chicago. I got to see my aunt and some of my cousins (including awesome bonding with my littlest cousin, six-year-old Sammy, who is the cutest kid ever). Also got to go downtown and say goodbye to one old friend and several new-er (internship year) ones. Went to hear a talk given by a very cool priest and had a nice short talk with him afterward. Then I headed down for a few days in Champaign. I got into town just in time for Mass at St. John's, with the best church music I'd heard in a long, long time. The choir sounded amazing. I was rather nervous about the "my dissertation is not done but I'm still leaving the country" talk with my advisor, but he was very supportive and we've got a plan in place to finish that sucker. I also got to stay with my dear friends Anna and Sarah, and see many other folks in Champaign. It was joyful though a little sad, since lots of them are also moving on, and who knows when we'll all be back in the same city again.
Next stop - back to Chicago, where I loaded up many of the boxes that had been living in my aunt's basement. It was pretty amazing what my little Toyota could hold - I wish I'd taken a picture. The poor car was barely off the ground, but it made it over the mountains of West Virginia and back in one piece. First, though, the day I was leaving I drove up to Mundelein for an early morning breakfast with friend and seminarian Bobby. I'd never been before and the campus was gorgeous. We crossed paths at first so I ended up walking down to this huge lake, that has piers jutting right out into it. The trees were blooming and this fresh breeze was coming in off the water - it was spectacular. Getting to see Bobby was wonderful. From there, I headed out to Athens, OH, to see another grad school buddy and spend the night before finally making it back to VA.
Once back in VA, there was one more trip - down to good old C'ville, to see my dear high school friend Amy and her three little boys. They were a blast! It was so neat to see what an amazing mom she is. Sometimes, there are friend who you know will always be your friends. Even if way too much time passes between visits, when you're back together things just click and that same caring is there. I feel so lucky to have friends like that, especially given how nomadic my life has been for the past few years.
On the ride back from C'ville (also beautiful - the green rolling hills and blossoming trees and horses running through the fields made me all nostalgic for Virginia even before I left) I found out that yet another dear friend was going to be in DC, so I got a suprise visit with him - yay! And got to spend some time with my best friend and her daughter - double yay!
And now, I'm in that stage of frantically packing my bags and getting a partial draft for my advisor and making sure all my paperwork is in order. But I'm so grateful for the past few weeks. I wish that I had had more time out there - I definitely did not see everyone I wanted to see - but it was an amazing trip. Through all of this, I just felt so supported, like my batteries were in a giant charger, storing up the warmth and strength and love for the challenges ahead.