From Here to Thanksgiving and Back Again

I'm back from a good length trip to North Carolina. I left Tuesday early morning and rode all day until I got to Montreat. I stopped there to stay a while with Andy and actually ended up eating a meal off of his meal plan and then taking a nap in his bed while he was away at a meeting. It was snowing beautifully while I was there. I had mixed feelings about that though. Andy was the one who pointed out the fact that the last time I was there in his dorm room was when Phillip passed away. It was also snowing on that day as well.

It was rather nice to leave campus behind though. I tend to just forget about everything when I leave Nashville, and probably all for the better. I need time to rebuild I suppose. It was also a good time to see everyone. I think more people come home for Thanksgiving than they do any other holiday and summer combined. It's not for very long, but it works just as well. But I found it to be a bit awkward. I realized that I didn't know most of the people that I used to be friends with. There is this gaping whole about the size of two years that seperates us now. All except for the ones I have stayed in close contacts with, the rest seem like strangers again. I don't know where to start, and all I really have are memories. But memories are rich and still give me a good feeling. I have learned the lesson well that life will never be the same as it used to be. It will always get more difficult, and in suit, I will become more experienced. Memories, however, are the only advantage I have over time. Time can never erase the perfection of a memory.

Going home serves an important reminder though. It is important for you to remember where you came from, especially while in the transitional stages of college living. Knowing that will better prepare you for where you are going. I felt that in a new way when I went to my sister's house for the day on Saturday. I feel behind in my growing. I don't feel like I'm NEAR that point of life yet, and maybe I'm not, but stuff like that does always seem to jerk me back into reality. It places an importance on my decisions. It brings me to focus on one solid point instead of on fleeting moments. All in all, it makes me take life more seriously.

It was a good visit with family and friends. It may just have been what I needed to refix my eyes on what I'm here for. Quite honestly I was at a point where I felt so burned out that I didn't want to do anything else for the rest of the semester. I felt conquered by everything, but now I feel strong again. I'm going to try and keep this flame kindled until the end of the semester. That's not too far off now, so one would think that to be easy, but I have, in fact, a great deal to accomplish before that time comes, namingly exams. I should do well though, considering that I have a second wind blowing in my sails. But it was a long drive home. It went by fast, but it is only until I walk through my door that I realize just how long I have been gone, which doesn't seem that long at all. So now is a time of reorganizing and redisciplining myself after a break that consisted of sleeping, eating, and playing sports. That might be harder said than done, but I don't really have a choice, do I? Here's to you. Hope you had a swell break, and keep on keepin on. Peace and love.