A Case of Transatlanticism.

Thursday night was a "tapas locas" party hosted by some of my very closest friends here at J-Maddy. It was quite a suave party for being in college. Usually all parties revolve around some sort of dancing or shallow conversation or awkward mingling, but this one was actually worthwhile. With really good food! Which, for me, is always a big big plus.

On top of that, one miss Lauren Backenstose showed up looking incredibly stylish (big surprise there, she puts everyone to shame in that arena) and we proceeded to walk down memory lane and recall to our good friend Dorathy many of our hilarious and "special" moments in prague, which included but not limited to: someone peeing in their pants, someone peeing in a bush, someone losing their dignity as we ran to the clock (all names omitted for the honor of those involved), and countless others. Poor Dorathy. We went on for a while, and it was great, and I think she found it all to be quite amusing.

I think I am missing Prague more than ever now. I don't know why. Maybe because life is just life now. But I am missing people from all over the world so much my heart hurts. Maybe its just this week that this is happening. Maybe by next week I will be comfortable. Or maybe I never will be. Its hard to tell what is reality and what is fleeting here in the college world. I need discernment.

I have a great time here. It is really wonderful, really it is, but I am aware of the reality that my entire world is not contained within the JMU campus. It is all over this globe. And since I can never be at all of these places at once, I will always live with parts of me here living deeply in the here and now, and parts of me terribly missing the others I cannot be with. Its a tension of a lifestyle but its easier to accept it and keep living, than to live denying that you really do love them, those that are far.



That being said, I went hiking today and it was incredible. We messed around on rocks, looked out over the seemingly boundless mountains, and wore mittens and scarves and enjoyed the clear, but frigid weather. It made my whole body start itching for winter, for snow, for skis, for the slopes with my dad and my lovely sisters. I cannot wait to be out there again. It won't be long, no, especially at this rate of flying time. Before I know it, its going to be Thanksgiving in Charlotte, then home for christmas shopping and fires in the fireplace and christmas songs and family gatherings and all things wonderful about life. I can't wait.