Where the Heart Is

I just finished reading Lauren's blog and remembered that I too had promised friends I would write about my travels to Nebraska.

It was great to see the familiar terrain: the stark branches, gray skies, crisp leaves. These are some of the things that are indelible in my mind. They have permeated my senses. More than one of you has heard me say, when it is October in Arizona, I know what it should smell like. It should smell like fallen leaves, but it just doesn't. Now I know why I was drawn to the author's of the great plains honors courses I always seemed to find myself in. The authors seemed to express in words more poetic than I ever could, what it is really like in the great plains. Stark, beautiful, life-giving, life-taking.

And now onto the people.

It was so good to see old friends and catch up on their new lives. We really are going places aren't we? Last year, Jenny asked me if I had thought of going to my 5 year class reunion. I said I hadn't even thought of it. When she asked why, I said because I'm not who I want to be yet. One year later, I think I have a little more to offer. I think that is true for everyone I encountered on my trip. More people are married and learning through a whole other person in their lives. More people have jobs that are interesting or allow them to do interesting things. We are living our lives. I felt so grown up!

It was so encouraging and heart-warming to catch up with friends that are near and dear to my heart. It was also a great blessing to celebrate with a good friend his wedding day. Congratulations Tom!