Lazy Days

I am feeling pretty darn good tonight. First, this morning on my run I passed a turkey, and if you know me, you might know that I was chased by a turkey one summer day in rural Wisconsin as I was training for the Chicago marathon. I've been scared of most fowl beasts since that time and alway avoid them when passing them in Madison's Arboretum. This morning a big ol' feathered friend was stoically standing in a Stony Point lawn. We made eye contact, I kept running, and I laughed to myself that in this moment and in the moments to come in my YAV year, I will face my fears, have courage, and go on. Take that turkey!!! (Also you tasted delicious at the thanksgiving dinner tonight! :))

Then I conquered another fear. Throughout the week, I ignored the talent show sign up hanging on the wall in our meeting space, while secretly practicing a song in my room and really wanting to sign up. Hours before the show and after the sign up sheet was taken down, the organizers still allowed me in the line up! It's amazing to think that just six days can create a loving community. Every single act, which included African dance, Korean song, duets, solos--every single act got this roaring ovation before and after they performed. I've heard lots of clapping in my life, but these hands were making noises that cheered their fellow YAVs to share their talents not only this night, but every day in next eleven months. The energy was electrifying! Finally my name was called, and I told the crowd that the song I was singing was called Lazy Days. I told them I wasn't sure how many lazy days we were going to have in the next year, but we had talked about self care in our session earlier in the day, and God rested on the seventh day, so that had to count for something. ;) Then I said, this song is about those moments where time stops, where you are happy just to be looking into someone's eyes. This song was for a guy I left in Wisconsin. 

And away I went with the guitar music on my iPod. And during Dylan's amazing, but amazingly long solo, I strummed my air guitar with my pick necklace. 

It was perfect. I feel loved by the people around me here. And I feel loved at home.