HFD

Hop off the bus from elementary school. Dig out my felt Woodsy Owl keychain. Unlock the door. I had trouble learning to unlock our front door because you had to turn a little to the right, press the handle, and shove in with a shoulder. The three step process was too much when I was eight. My dad drew a tiny arrow directing the key with pencil right above the keyhole.

I'd finally get it, open the screen door and hear:
-The abrupt stop of keys typing at a computer.
-The creak of an office chair.
-My dad's voice building, "Its...it's...Alice!"

I might have sighed, but I liked that great booming welcome from my great booming dad. And slowly I'm sure it built up in me. My entrance is to be celebrated. I'm loved, I'm home.

Encroachin'

I'm not one to get too Christian woo woo here, but I read this verse today, and I was pretty inspired:

"Where I am, there ye may be also" (John 14: 3)

I think we hear a lot--regardless of what faith we are or aren't--this concept that God/Good is where WE are, but rarely do I consider that flipped. But, actually, that makes more sense. It's as significant of a difference as saying, "I ate at the same pizza parlor as Cher" vs. "Cher ate at the the same pizza restaurant I did." Do you get what I mean? I might not be clear. This is a break from studying all my theory notes and grading a billion script outlines while listening to the Titanic soundtrack on repeat.

It's not that we go to horrible places, but, you know what? Good stuff can be there! It's more like...we are inherently where Good stuff is. We encroached on God's domain--not vice versa. And that's nice. It's nice to encroach on God's domain. S/he doesn't mind. Rather, we're all quite welcome.


In two months I'mm be at camp with this one. Kath & Me. 2011.

Hooray for Arizona Day!

Tuesday was Arizona Day! Not statewide, but certainly me-wide.

1. CACTUS
It was my last day with my aunt's friend (Maf). I woke up early and went running to soak in the desert and mountains one more time before becoming a city girl. I was having a pleasant time until while swinging backward, my right hand flew into a cactus--and it stuck to me. I thought cacti were prickly, sure, but I didn't know they attacked. A bulb of the plant popped right off and it's needles were thoroughly wedged into my hand. It was extremely painful--my knee jerk reaction was to grab it out with my other hand. A DOY the cactus just pierced that hand too. After some wincing and blood, I got at least one hand free and made my embarrassed way back to the house with a huge chuck of cactus on me. I learned that combs are the best way to free cacti from skin and that the pain goes away instantly once the needles have been pulled. WELCOME TO AZ!

2. PETROGLYPH
Maf had free passes to the university Petroglyph museum! Petroglyphs are drawings/chipping on rocks made my ancient peoples. I expected to find it interesting, but I was incredibly inspired. People from thousands of years ago made these designs we can only blindly guess about, and I was staring at them wondering. I can't begin to describe the freedom I felt from walking around the exhibit. WELCOME TO AZ!

3. CUTE OWLS
As a bonus we stopped at the bird rescue place Maf volunteer's at. Again, I figured I'd be interested, but I ended up overjoyed to see tiny owls and other desert animals. WELCOME TO AZ!

4. WELCOME WAGON
In late afternoon, I made my way to my new condo and spent about an hour or so emptying the car and beginning organization. Then, a second year grad student in my program invited me out for dinner. While I asked a bunch of questions about classes and professors, he gave me a little driving tour of the area. WELCOME TO AZ!

5. HOME SWEET HOME
When I got home my roommate and his girlfriend asked if I would join them for homemade tira misu. Uh DOY. They had another friend over, so we ate and then played a board game. WELCOME TO AZ!

Doesn't it seem like everything's comin' up roses?


Look at the bottom right of the rock. It's two deer kissing. Petroglyph!