Arial, Courier, Georgia...goodness! The font options sure are limited! None of them seems sufficient to express my thoughts right now. Arial it is.
Mine is a mind that is ever aware of how I would describe the current moment to someone. As I move through each activity of the day, whatever it might be, I often think of it in literary terms, scripting it almost like a novel or a movie. I know, lame, right? But the funny thing is that when I sit down to write it, I really struggle to figure out what to say. I'm not sure why that is.
And so it is with this day. This day I have had so many thoughts. Is everyone this way? Head so full of thoughts, comments, realizations, all the time? It's impossible to record it all, and I think it's such a tragedy to lose it! Let me tell you where I am at this moment. I'm in Dorchester, Boston, just south of downtown Boston. I'm in a little 4-story home (each story gets a little smaller - I'm on the top floor, but it's just my room and a tiny little storage room) on a street called Longfellow. This area isn't the nicest neighborhood in terms of high class - houses a bit run-down, dirty streets and sidewalks. And I feel entirely the minority - a white girl, college student. I do not fit in. And I don't have a clue what I'm doing - I don't know how grad school is supposed to work! I hope I get a good job, that I can make ends meet, and be diligent enough to do all this. I feel all that weigh on me. But my house is nice - the nicest on the street, with a beautiful little patio out back, a well-cared-for flower garden out front, and my room, though rather small, is lovely and cool. The last time I felt this excited, apprehensive, scared, and determined all at once was during those first few days of my mission. This is exactly how I felt. Only then I was with someone 24-7. Now it's just me.
But I know that's not true. Sometimes I let it feel true, and I crumble into an emotional, scared mess. But every time I have prayed, I have felt a peace come over me. The apprehension is still there, but I'm not alone, and the fear doesn't control me. I feel strong enough to do this. The woman I live with is very kind. She is an avid Christian, and so excited for us to share our beliefs with one another. Already she has asked to read one of my books (one by Sheri Dew). She said of all the people who responded to her Craigslist posting, she felt certain she wanted me, for some reason. She insists there is a reason I'm here. I do hope that she will let me show her the truth.
An ice cream truck just drove by, playing "It's a Small World". I never felt that truer than now (seems almost ironic) - our street is very multi-cultural, but quiet and nice. I love new adventures like this. I really do. Saying goodbye to my family was harder than I expected, and facing all of this unknown is challenging, but I really do feel at peace when I remember my Savior's grace, how He has blessed me so much in my life, and has cared for those who have gone before.
Speaking of those people, whom I now revere so much for their faith to follow the Lord, I would like to report on some of my most recent firsts. I'll record them all in just a moment. First, I would like to comment on what a wonderful week it's been. My family got along quite well, we saw some amazing places, and my youngest brother Cisco has impressed me so much! He was the only brother that came. He is 15, which we all know could be miserable to share a car with for umpteen hours, but he was delightful. Despite returning from the national Boy Scout Jamboree in Virginia only one day before we left, he remained in good spirits, never complained that we didn't stay in a hotel with a pool (which he really wanted, and I think he deserved it, with his good attitude, hard work, etc.), and was always helpful and kind to both me and my mom. To top it off, of his own accord, he got a notebook and sat and read the Book of Mormon for several minutes, taking notes (in very good penmanship, I must add!) and studying hard. He participated in all the sites, and we all had a great time. My emotions were certainly on the surface - at Winter Quarters and Nauvoo especially, I would get teary each time I would think of the Saints leaving everything they knew behind to cross one of the most forbidding lands imagineable, and this often leaving family and loved ones behind. I am so amazed. I have truly been blessed by the Holy Spirit this week.
So, here are some firsts for this week (ya know, there are a lot of firsts not included, but I've chosen to keep track of the highlights):
22. Wade into the waters of the Mississippi River (Saturday, August 7, 2010)
23. See one of the Great Lakes (Lake Erie - Sunday, August 8, 2010)
24. Go into the upper room of the Newel K. Whitney store, or School of the Prophets (Monday, August 9, 2010)
25. Visit the Hill Cumorah (Tuesday, August 10, 2010)
26. Visit the Sacred Grove (Tuesday, August 10, 2010)
Best of luck to you all, and all my love! Oh, and Mom, you did well! I miss you already.
Wow, you are sure getting in a lot of FIRSTS! I am so impressed at how brave you are to go across country to pursue this graduate degree. What an adventure! It soudns like you had a great time visiting church history sites along the way. Mike keeps telling me that he wants to go to Boston so if we ever have the money to take an extensive trip like that we will HAVE to come and see you. It's fun being able to keep up with what you are doing through your blog. Keep up the posts, they are fun to read, and good luck with settling in. It sounds like the lady you live with may be GOLDEN!
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