I guess I can always catch everyone up on the post-Africa part of the summer! When I landed back in the US, I had the pleasure of hanging out with my dear old frien
d Jocelyn, her sweetheart Eddie, and their son Xander. During my visit, we went to Eddie's brother's Will's niece's Serenity's birthday party (just about as complicated as it sounds; add to that when Will's brother's Chris's fiance's daughter Joshana met me and asked me how she and I were related! I had to do some figuring, but was very delighted to be so thoroughly included in the family's event.) In addition to the party, which was a blast (thanks for inviting me Eddie!), we also hung out at the beach and on the porch of Jocelyn's Aunt Lynn's house in Marblehead which is full of amazing art made by her Uncle Connie (see photo-- this is one small stain glass in a nook in a stairwell that, with mirrors, appears to be a column of light-induced beauty right in the center of the house). Yes, you heard me. Uncle. Connie. It's a long story. But he was an amazing artist and the visit was absolutely wonderful. Lynn is a bottomless fountain of energy, fighting (in the most positive sense possible) for justice, community, a cleaner environment, education, and empowerment every single day. She is definitely one of my role models, and made a big impression on me when I met her for the first time during college. The conversation with her that first struck me so has been rattling around in my head a lot this year, so remind me to tell it to you devoted reader, the next time I see you. Thank you, Jocelyn-- for your longtime friendship and the tentacles of friendship you've extended from me to your family and vice versa.
After Boston, I went to a conference in Maine (insert work rigmarole here) and then flew to Chicago to visit my favorite extended family members (my Aunt Linda, Uncle Gary and Cousin Bonnie) and my old high school friends (see picture below) and their kiddos. From there, I hitched a ride to Indiana to spend some time at the old homestead. I stayed with my dear friends Claudio and Michelle and their newborn, Sofia and got to get some quality time in with my favorite holdovers in Bloomington. That place is still dear to me, I must admit. I drove from there with a U-haul to Lake Weekend, known to all devoted blog readers from last year, and the year before that.
After the glory of Lake Weekend (write me for tracklist or mp3s of this year's awesome lake cd if thou shalt want), I started the long drive west. It included a small fender bender (and fantastic hamburger) in Kansas, a visit with John, April and Zora in Fort Fun, Colorado, and a surprise visit to my old roommate from high school in Logan, UT. Yes, it is amazing the propensity for visiting and nostalgia one can tap into when one is driving with all one's belongings cross-country to start one's legitimate life after one's really fun and variable illegitimate life has resulted in the bounty of awesomeness that one has enjoyed so far. Really, for someone not very sentimental, it was a very sentimental summer.
After all that-- I got home. To Portland, OR. To my new apartment (the bachelorette pad, photos to follow) and my new post at RC (I'll use that code, so as to prevent blogposts here from coming up in the typical google search for the college).
May I present: my office, my digs, my western claim, my attempt at semi-legitimacy, my de facto home. As always, come visit.
