WICKEDGOOD

The key is to extrapolate from your special partiality and apply the feeling to the rest of the world. The "global village, global family" is, honestly, a dream. A psychological impossibility. You can't love the whole of humanity with the intensity of your feelings for a boyfriend. Or a mom. Or your Binky. So when that guy behind you starts humming along to the musical songs you're trying to get all involved in, remember your "annoying" friend who might - who totally would - do that, too, if he were here with you. He wouldn't be able to help himself. And actually, it would be kind of cute. 

And all of a sudden, forgiving is so easy. And you lean forward in your seat, all engrossed and involved in the action on stage, no matter how strainedly huge-guy-behind-you is hummin' along. His girlfriend sitting one seat over is probably a little bit embarrassed and also a little bit endeared to him at the same time, mysteriously happier and sadder in equal amounts, as love tends to make you feel. So I hear. 

Once you've extrapolated your friend-feelings onto the hummer behind you, the whole world is a little bit easier to love. You unfrown those scrunchy eyebrows, uncross those bratty metaphorical arms, which all opens you up just enough to notice the nerdy boy one row over, almost spitting in enthusiasm at the INCREDIBILITY OF THE LYRICS, THE THEMATIC CONSISTENCIES; and sitting in front is a family of smartphoners, each engrossed in intermission-time activities that reveal so much about how different they all are (Harry Potter trivia, flappybird, and one reads an article in small print and serious colors); and then your gaze comes back, full-circle, to your own row of quirkily lovable, funny lovely people, 

and it's all another all-inclusive, conflationary reminder of the World's Goodness, as the harmonies full the theater up to its ceiling, so close, and your ears and heart chambers and eyeballs and lungs. One more example to tuck into the notebook of Things to Remember, to be pulled out in emergencies of faith-loss and the subsequent despair. 

The World is Good. Wicked Good.

strange faces in strange places

saturday may three

dear God,

would you not let me lose sight of lo que es verdadero

would you cup my chin in your hand, to always point heavenward

would you send me reminders to step out of myself, every day

would you help me to do everything, yeah everything, with

good intentions,

diligence and meaning,

and quiet joy

would you mould me to be more apparently like your daughter.


amen amen

tidbitty [final] notes from transduction

• responsibility = response + ability
• WHAT IS GOING ON
• WHAT ARE YOU DOING
• listen concertedly, and people will talk. this might also make you cry.
• "we will each take turns sounding stupid. therefore, be kind."

Rails

by Scott Owens

Every child should have one, a pair, really,

a matched set, set apart just the right width

so that one foot pressed against each one

leaves you stretched out about as far

as you can go, unable to move, feeling

almost trapped, almost actually in danger.

And every child should walk them as if

that's what they were intended for,

leading out of town, around the curve,

along the river, revealing the backsides

of people's homes, clotheslines and refuse,

the yards you weren't supposed to see.

And every child should learn to balance

atop the railhead without the constant

unsightly tipping from side to side,

should be able to step exactly the distance

between the ties consistently, almost

marching without kicking up ballast.

And every child should have a bridge

they go under to hide and look

at dirty magazines and smoke cigarettes

and place coins on the rails to flatten

and see if this could be the one

to cause the train to leap the tracks.

And every child should know the lonely

distant sound of late night travel

when bad dreams have kept them awake

wondering where they come from, what

they bring or take, and where when it's all

done they might return and call home.

april is the sweetest month

This April, I am the closest to being jettisoned out of the normalcy, routine, safety that is Formal Education that I've ever been, ever.

No jokes: it's been stressful. It's been a sort of a mess.

But this April has also been a good freaking month. Of so much growing up (and the growing pains) and good conversations on long car rides and spontaneous on-site prayer interventions and mindblowing paper-writing and the yolo-est yolo-in' in such a long, long time.

It makes me excited and tired and not make any sense with my words.

So here:

 a time for the old and the new. what a mindblowing and awe-inspiring blessing class this has been. I've learned so much about life and people and leadership skills and teamworking, for reals. 

"Transduction is...taking something and putting it somewhere else."

4.6.14, hsl
"okay I'm gonna go back to studying in 15 minutes"
the bluebell. the blahblahs. the drama

 a time for inviting uva to my home-home. singles awareness club, circa april eleventh 

"wait please don't leave. please please stay. I like that you guys are here."

4.11.14 fdf reunion. dumplings and bees.

"dear God please help us to love people."

4.11-12.14, strat

"FIRE FRIDAYS" yes

4.12.14 jazzfest at fellini's

"what is tomtom? like I know it's entrepreneurship blahsomething but what is it, really?" 

 4.13.14 international center bluegrass picnic

"#haha #genuinelaughters #ourlivesaregreat"

"grrrrrrl whatchu lookin' at"

 true feelings^

 4.13.14, ruffin: impromptu childhood toy-making

"if you hear my voice, raise your right hand

and take your left hand out

and shake it allarounnddd"

 hopenhauer schopenhauer

4.15.14 exhibit day 1, OpenGrounds 

4.17.14 shenanjoe on the corner!

coffeedate with my coffeeguy

"HOW DO YOU KNOWWWWWW EVERYTHINGGGGG

AGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"

"It just makes sense!"

 4.17.14 exhibit day 2

introducing the Little to transduction

 the most pda couple ever

4.18.14 rebs' artshow, ruffin

"quotidian"

4.18.14 the largest and happiest pizza in all of charlottesville

4.20.14 blessings over brunch

hehee "SHE IS A DOMESTIC GODDESS YES" 

4.20.14, downtown with my juju

"sharing life"...until I was called to a rescue scene!

4.24-25.14, hsl

"poetry after Auschwitz is barbaric"

making the biggest mess ever made during the writing of a paper

"this is terrifying!"

"it is not complete, but alas, deadlines"

4.25.14 fourth year banquet...for US??

 "but of course!!

when two people with perfect, complementary heights take a picture, it can't help but be good ;)"

"sometimes, blurry laughing pictures are the best" 

4.26.14 fauxfield 

"dear God thank you for this weather and this place and this company and this perfect food"

 rogue cork

4.26.14 YOLO lynchburg

"it's very...you"

"WELL THAT'S TERRIBLE I WON'T GET IT"

 4.27.14, meade ave.

"can myyy postgrad life be this picturesque too??"

 "wait wait what do you mean five pictures huh? is it starting now? wait huh?! it just! uh"

timerphoto tricks

 getting all excited over neopets, life lessons, First Heartbreaks. I work with the best people.

4.27.14 dear God would you watch over Julie as she travels homeward

dear God would you keep Judith focused on and fired up for you

dear God would you help Madison rest certain in uncertainties

"This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it" Psalm 118:24

4.27.14, strat srat

"sorry sorry sorry I'm so sorry but we're not davidchang sorry" 

complete with cheesecake, hawaiian leis, obnoxious yearbook comments.

the Last GCF Birthday Surprise

and it was so good.

ya did GOOD!

4.30.14 first year suite...ees ;)
fourth year reunioning. ah.