… unsure of how I got here… I am listening to my life soundtrack in the last 48 hours of my Berea College experience. I will be an alum before the week is out. I am writing farewell letters to be sure everyone knows how they touched my heart in my time here, when a song fills the room, and I feel fortunate to be alone. This past week has spun by so quickly filled with graduation celebrations, farewells, errands, packing, etc. I had not yet been alone for reflection.

Here I sit, with an openly wounded brand new tattoo to commemorate the healing that this spring has brought into my life. Peter Gabriel’s “I grieve” whispers to me “it was only one hour ago, it was all so different then, nothing yet has really sunk in, looks like it always did”. This is meaningful in multiple contexts. It is perfectly suited for how my heart feels at this very moment: that great change is at hand, but not detectable, understandable, explainable, or predictable… Yet it also echos my healing, my reunion with life again after this winter’s solstice. I’ve written down in blood and ink my contract with my heart to never loose hope. There’s a lot of love wrapped up in that newly colorful patch of skin as well. Dawn drew the symbol, Peg sponsored it (shhh!), Jessa drove me and shared the day with me, Alix reminded me how important it was to me, Noelle answered her phone, I got the idea while walking with Rosie at the Marsh, Missy helped me sneak away, Beth and Sarah prayed with me, Irene helped my weary heart rest and helped me stay warm and healthy this winter, Ellen installed confidence, Paige introduced me to Charmed Life Tatts, and countless others have touched my heart throughout my healing process. Mmm… Life is beautiful. Thanks for the love.