I am back. From moving apartments in record time, from driving to Alabama, visiting, driving back and being sick in record time, and so much more.
Let’s see…I moved and essentially just changed apartments the weekend before Christmas. I had one week to do it and it got DONE thanks to the help of many wonderful friends and Boyfriend. After the crazy move, I had 3 days before leaving for Alabama. Nuts. I packed up Millie and myself, hopped in the car and started the 12-hour trek to Alabamy. We stopped for the night in TN and got into Wetumpka early Christmas afternoon. I begged dad to go to Waffle House since a) I hadn’t eaten anything all day, b) it was the only thing open, and c) we don’t have them here. He said no. lol. He wanted to save that $5.85 for an All-Star Breakfast and make some French toast. Ok. Deal. We ate French toast. Then, later that night, I met Marcus at Waffle House for coffee and got my All-Star breakfast! The rest of the trip was a whirlwind of visiting friends and family. I got to see all my friends in Montgomery (and the surrounding areas) and then got to go to B’ham one day and see all those guys and gals. It was a very fast, very hectic trip, but well worth it. I didn’t get to spend nearly the time I wanted with everyone, but it made me very happy to see all my friends and family at Christmas. I know it was rushed, but thank you for making time. I’m sorry I didn’t get to see everyone I wanted to (J), but we’ll catch up next time. 🙂 I had no idea you were in the big “A”. That is such a nice area – growing up so fast. I think everyone is moving out there. lol.
Christmas and New Year’s were both uneventful. I slept on New Year’s Eve because I was heading back to VA the next day. I left AL a few days early because I was sick and in hopes of getting some of my apartment unpacked. Since I was sick, that didn’t happen. I mostly just laid on the couch and sneezed/wiped my nose. Oh well. I have the rest of the year to unpack, right?
I think about Hope pretty much everyday now. I was driving home on New Year’s day and I was going through the mountains of North Carolina. John Mayer’s “Say” came on the iPod and I turned a corner and saw the most breathtaking view of the mountains in the distance…the sun just starting to set. I listened to the words. I kept stealing glances at the view. I started crying. These words got to me: “Even if your hands are shaking, And your faith is broken, Even as the eyes are closing, Do it with a heart wide open.” I thought about Hope and her husband. I thought about her children. I thought about her never getting to see what I saw that day – the beauty of the mountains and the earth. I am not sure why I am so affected by Hope and her story. I am not sure why I just start crying and I can’t stop. I had to pull over that day. I figured I would get a little upset and be ok, but I just started sobbing like someone punched me in the heart. I thought for sure she was gone and I just didn’t know yet. But she’s not. She’s still hanging on. I told Liz about her when I was visiting and we both started bawling away. Anyway, pray for the family. And, corny as it may sound, listen to John Mayer:
Say
by John Mayer
Take all of your wasted honor
Every little past frustration
Take all of your so-called problems
Better put them in quotations
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Walking like a one man army
Fighting with the shadows in your head
Living out the same old moment
Knowing you’d be better off instead
If you could only
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Have no fear for giving in
Have no fear for giving over
You better know that in the end
It’s better to say too much
Than never to say what you need to say again
Even if your hands are shaking
And your faith is broken
Even as the eyes are closing
Do it with a heart wide open
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to
Say what you need to
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
(Fade)