C.S. Lewis

In each of my friends there is something that only some other friend can fully bring out. By myself I am not large enough to call the whole man into activity; I want other lights than my own to show all his facets. Now that Charles [Williams] is dead, I shall never again see Ronald [Tolkien’s] reaction to a specifically Charles joke. Far from having more of Ronald, having him 'to myself' now that Charles is away, I have less of Ronald.

Adventure Time

I found out yesterday that my good friend Rachel doesn't like adventuring.  This was a huge shocker, because we've known each other quite a long time and we are greatly alike in many other respects. So I assumed she was like me.  I love adventuring.  If I've gone six months without travel I begin getting depressed.  (I also rearrange my furniture on a regular basis.  Essentially, I thrive on change.)

The last few years have been quiet for me because of being sick and living at home and having surgery.  My passport also expired within that time frame, so I haven't traveled internationally since 2009, and that was just to Canada.   BUT, two weeks from today I get to fly off to the UK for my best British friend's wedding. I will also be visiting one of my ancestral homes, Ireland, for a week. :D :D :D

:D

I am euphoric. 

Barbara's take on Julian of Norwich

"All will be well and all will be well and I ain't be trippin'."

Hidden Community

Until I decided to have surgery most of my friends didn't know I was sick, and it's only been a year and a half since I began openly talking about endometriosis. What I've discovered is that I'm part of this hidden community: the community of those who have suffered. To one who has known pain, it is restful to be with someone who can look you in the face and say, "I get it." It is restful to know you're not gonna hear, "But you don't look sick!" or any of the other well-meaning-but-misguided maxims people throw around (humans don't know what to do with brokenness). I don't ever want to be in pain like I that again, but I'm really grateful to be a source of comfort and rest to others who have or still are suffering. I saw he relief on another face today as I spoke with a man about what it's like to be in so much physical torment that you don't understand how you're still alive. "You understand," he said.

Yes, sir. Yes sir, I do.

Art for now

I wanted to post yesterday about the 50th anniversary of MLK's "I Had a Dream" speech, but I never got to it. Maybe I will in the next few weeks.  There's lots I have to say about race, but this week I'm simply too busy to write anything meaningful.  So I will direct you instead to you my favorite artist:

Marcia Furman

If you read this blog regularly (i.e. we're friends in real life) there's a strong possibility you've already heard of Ms. Furman because of me. :)  This woman paints what I would paint if I could paint, which is why I love her. Here's my current fave: 

"Doubts - they get the best of me" by Marcia Furman

If you like her style you can buy cool things at her Etsy and Zazzle shops.  (Also a good place to go if you're dying to buy me a present but have no idea what to get...)

Restoring Childhood

Come All You Weary

(Also, I've decided I'm going to learn the drums someday. [Magical Someday.])