My high school cross country coach and his wife are two of my favorite people, and I haven't seen them in far too long, so when my mom asked if I wanted to ride out to their home with her on Tuesday evening to pick up some beef (and by "some" I mean 85 pounds), I jumped at the chance. Life on a farm feels so romantic to me sometimes, and there is nothing like catching up with Dr. Race over a glass of really good wine. 

The scenery isn't too bad, either.

  

When the world feels dark and overwhelming, it's nice to have a place where things don't seem to change.

My heart goes out to Boston this week. Life should be joyful. We shouldn't have to be afraid at every turn.

On Saturday morning, I drove to Northern Virginia for Melissa's bridal shower, and it was so fun. I've gotten so used to the drive from Roanoke to DC, and it was kind of nice to get all dressed up and spend a couple of hours with the windows down and music playing. It was a gorgeous day for a drive, and although the trip back on the same day wasn't as fun as on the way up, it was totally worth it to be there.

  

  

Thanks to Laura (far right) for the last photo! I swiped it right from Facebook.

It's been quite a strange week, and that's all I'll say about that, as vague as it may be. I try to be intentional about realizing just how lucky I am--how good my life already is--but there are times when it's hard. This year has had its fair share of hurdles already, and I just hope that I'll soon start hitting my stride. Until then, I'll be getting as much fresh air as possible and reading deep into the infinite wisdom of dear E.E. Cummings.

[Tulips in Charlottesville, March 2012]

Spring is like a perhaps hand

E.E. Cummings

Spring is like a perhaps hand

(which comes carefully

out of Nowhere) arranging

a window, into which people look (while

people stare

arranging and changing placing

carefully there a strange

thing and a known thing here) and

changing everything carefully

spring is like a perhaps

Hand in a window

(carefully to

and fro moving New and 

Old things, while 

people stare carefully

moving a perhaps

fraction of flower here placing

an inch of air there) and

without breaking anything.

--

Tonight I'm having dinner with some wonderful girlfriends of mine, and tomorrow I'm off to DC for the day to shower Melissa with love as she fast approaches her upcoming wedding! And in just one week, I'll be in Minneapolis hanging out with Rob. The bright side, people. We've got to stay on it.