Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Expect the Unexpected

If on December 31st 2007 the ghost of New Years Yet to Come had shown me what the year 2008 would bring me, I wouldn't have believed him. Nor do I think I would have understood what I saw.

To say the least 2008 was unexpected. My last semester in Logan was so long, so boring, I was dying for a change, for something new and different. So I went to California. The only expectations I had when I went out there was to have fun.

Expectation met.

Everything else about my time in California was completely unexpected. I didn't see it coming and I'm still not sure how it all happened.

I didn't even know his name when he put his hand on my waist as we crouched on a small wooden platform as part of a team building activity. I was taken by surprise twice in that moment. My first reaction was "Hey who does this guy think he is?" followed by something I didn't expect: that hand felt like it belonged there. It actually scared me. Surprise! I realize how hollywood that sounds but I won't pretend like it didn't happen like that.

The fall passed in a blur. I was working so hard as a student teacher that I think I didn't even have time to mark the passage of time. The weekends at the end of September, October and November stand out in my mind but everything else about the fall runs together.

Winter came. I graduated. 5 1/2 years in the making. A bright spot not just on 2008 but on my life.

And now its time for 2009 to start. Before July I don't think I knew where Cleveland, Ohio was. Now, because of what has happened in 2008 I will be moving there in two days. Even as I type this I can hardly believe it.

Some people have said that its a brave thing I'm doing. Maybe, but I don't feel very brave. It's just something I have to do. Unless I want to live the rest of my life wondering, I don't have much choice.

And the truth is with or without Cleveland I'm still at a crossroads in my life. I would still have to take a step into the dark, not knowing what was on the other side. The next chapter of my life is unwritten and I want to be its author. I don't want to wait around and have it written for me.

Sadie told me that of anyone she knows I can handle this experience and that I do well with the unknown. I responded by telling her that I'm equipped with the knowledge that the gospel is true, that Christ is my Savior, that my family loves and supports me and after that anything I don't know doesn't scare me. And I'm very willing to add to the store of things I DO know and take away some of the things that I don't. Seek and ye shall find.

Jenni told me she was proud of me and that gives me confidence.

My mom told me she would always be there which gives me peace of mind.

Will told me he loves me which inspires me.

Bring it on 2009.

Through all of this I am so grateful for a mother who encourages me and supports me in finding my way rather than try to keep me home and safe where nothing bad (or good) can happen to me. So much of who I am is because of her. I can't even begin to say how much she means to me.

Leap and the net will appear -- Zen saying

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Winter Travel

This weekend was my first experience flying in the winter time. I never realized it before but as I was crossing the country at 30,000 feet the entire country was frozen over. It was strange to think about...

So here are the worst things about traveling in the winter time:

1. The weather

2. Its really cold (aka the weather)

3. Flights are often delayed, canceled, or made more dangerous (because of the weather)

4. Traveling near Christmas was also an interesting experience. I think if a flight is canceled in January everyone will be inconvenienced and disgruntled however they might miss a work day or a class and who doesn't love a legitimate excuse to be kept from that stuff every once in awhile. But if your flight gets canceled near Dec. 25 everyone is a little more upset and panicked cause everyone wants to be home for the holidays.

So here's what happened to me. I left the Cleve Monday morning, flight was uneventful. I had a three hour lay-over in Chicago O'Hare. Huge airport, spent a bunch of time walking around, ate a Chicago dog and some caramel popcorn. My flight was on time but over booked. They asked for volunteers to stay the night in Chicago in exchange for Delta dollars. For about 15 minutes I stressed over what to do. On the one hand I'm jobless, thus poor, young etc. and I had nothing to lose by staying the night. On the other hand what if something went wrong with my flight the next day? Canceled? Delayed? It was only three days before Christmas.

I finally decided to stick around. So, Delta provided me with a hotel room at the Wyndham which was actually pretty nice. Free shuttle back and forth from the airport. A guaranteed first class ticket to SLC at 7:15 in the morning. $21 in meal vouchers and $400 Delta Dollars to be used however, whenever I want to in the next year toward flights. Not a bad deal. But I was still stressed about the next mornings flight.

Spending the night alone in Chicago three days before Christmas was kind of fun. I pretended like I was Kevin from Home Alone. I guess its Home Alone II that he spends in a nice hotel alone but that's in New York. I would have liked to have spent some time downtown but I was scared because I was alone and it was FREEZING outside. Seriously, so cold.

Woke up at 5:15. Airport was so crowded. Started to get stressed about the security line but because it was a first class ticket I got bumped to the front. Then I was selected for further screening which bumped me to the front of the front. Turns out I'm not a terrorist and it was on to a free breakfast and waiting for the flight.

I had about an hour of nervousness because there was a problem with our plane. We ended up being delayed about an hour and a half. Which considering...was not a big deal. A lot of people missed connecting flights out of SLC which was to bad but not me! Flying first class was sweet. Highly recommended. Not a bad a deal I took. Arrived home less than a day later no worse for the wear.

Wow this is really long and not that eventful. Sorry. Written more for me than you.

In closing I'll just say my weekend was great. Totally worth the hassle of air travel. Thanks Wilbur. But is it ok to say that I'm fine if I don't have to hop on a plane again anytime soon?

Next adventure: Me, Stu and the Subaru travel across the country. Stay tuned.