That’s Heather on the right, and me in the middle.
On January 1 I flew to Wisconsin to visit my best friend for five days. It was to be a “vacation from my problems,” to quote Bill Murray in What About Bob?. It did the trick. I marveled at the snow-covered silos, the reindeer with enormous antlers, the cheese factories, Orion’s belt in the clear night sky…. I ate extra sharp Wisconsin cheddar cheese with Cheerios (an impeccable combination), Lindt chocolate balls, cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory (I tried white chocolate caramel latte), creamy potatoes & ham…. I took a bath while listening to Heather’s playlist of 1940s female singers. We watched countless episodes of House and admired Hugh Laurie’s blue eyes, his sultry limp.
Since this was a vacation, I refused to check my e-mail, especially not my work e-mail. But unwelcome thoughts still crowded my head—thoughts of family issues, love life issues, work issues…. I tried to kick them away and dwell on the more pleasant aspects of life, such as crawling into bed atop an electric mattress-heating pad, or learning how to knit a hat, or exchanging Christmas presents with someone who knows just what to get you, year after year. (Heather got me books 2, 3, & 4 in the Anne of Green Gables series, as well as a first edition copy of I Capture the Castle, by Dodie Smith. What Heather didn’t know was that I’d brought along I Capture the Castle to WI to read for the second time. Which proves I love the book. Which proves it was a great gift. She also made me a CD of the 1940s singers, and even gave me two sweaters she had received for Christmas but didn’t want.)
Have I sung her praises enough?
I didn’t want to leave…but I know I have plenty to look forward to at college, despite academic demands and job demands. I have confidence that God is working throughout whatever happens in my life. I am determined to dedicate the new year to Him. I don’t want to let go of the closer connection we’ve shared. I look forward to journeying with Him, wherever He may lead. Of course, it is easy to throw out platitudes like “I have confidence” or “I trust Him for the outcome”…but at the moment, I honestly feel like my happiness is inevitable as long as I’m committed to loving Him.
“I honestly feel like my happiness is inevitable as long as I’m committed to loving Him.” That’s fantastic. I may quote you to my journal and the Facebook world.
I think Antoinette is the best looking in that picture. How do we even compete?
Sounds like a great week! I’m glad you had a chance to experience new foods and sights. I look forward to hearing more about it (and seeing pictures.) It would be nice to invite Heather to stay with us sometime, too.
Impeccable? Not quite the word I’d use…
So glad you had the chance to see the Plymouth Cow!! Next to eating at El Duckos, it’s one of the highlights of my life.
–Don
I love all the pics from Wisconsin. You look like you had a lot of fun!
Thank you for being so supportive of me, even though I’m pretty sure for a moment there I was probably inaudible due to my wavering voice. I’m glad I was given the moment to share what had been burdening me for a long time. And thank you for being so receptive of what I had to say!
I’ve been surfing random blogs for the last few minutes and the friendly WordPress arrow led me to yours. Three different times.
So I feel compelled to say hello and comment that “I Capture the Castle” is one of my favorites.
-Jo
Huntsville, AL
I love the cow pictures. It’s exactly how I would picture Wisconsin.
I am jealous of your Anne of Green Gables books. I dont know where mine are.. but I would like to read them again.
((I am glad things are better.)))
[...] Spain. (I usually go through about a box a week. BIG boxes.) When I visited my friend Heather after New Year’s Day, I saw that she had deliberately purchased a box of Cheerios for my stay. Heather, I never told [...]