greetings from Seattle, yo!

Alrighty...

   now that I am settling in more, I figured I'd share the scoop.  First and foremost, Glennjamin and Krystal visited the day before last and it was fantastic!  Krystal played the mandolin, Glen the uke, and me the banjo... good to bring bluegrassy goodness to our porch.  So nice to see familiar faces too. 

   Work is silly disorganized... they lost a copy of my social security card... that doesn't really seem okay to me... my check was four days late... and other assorted slip-ups that make me crave a secretarial job where I could be anal, and organized, and more effective than the system here.

   I love working with the core members.  I'm learning to sign and it's great to be able to communicate with some words now. 

   My roommate Melissa (Melvin) is fantastic.  She's joined me in my bedtime hour routine and we share about our day... I find it is nice to get guarenteed one on one chatting in a house of 7, where it can be overwhelming at times. 

   I am not in love with busses.  The past two days I've spent three hours on busses, which feels silly... I wish I could bring my banjo.  In the meantime, I'm listening to music and drawing cartoons on the bus, which is fun. 

   My goal is to find a bike this weekend... we'll see how it goes. 

much love,

megsy

grateful-

-blackberries

-water

-music

-Melvin

-Rosemary Records

-Missy Suzanne

-internet at work

 

hey y'all

Hey not much time here... just wanted to say I'm feeling more adapted and with an excited heart lately... and I'm meeting people who like bluegrass... this is good!

love!

megasus

hey ya'll...

Hey folks...

    I am now at my placement, and things are nice here.  The folks I work with are sweet and most of the time we get to hang out and appreciate one another.  Today we'll be making candles and having afternoon tea.  Yesterday I was asked to drive a 15 passenger van on the highway here in the city... my response was-nopers!  Nowhere in my job description did it mention transporting core members, and I'm not comfortable with driving in the city period... let alone a big honkin' van.  I've heard that it is hard to balance the intentional community of L'Arche and LVC, so I'm setting boundaries early.  Right now, my priority is LVC because L'Arche already gets 40 hours a week.  The commute on bus is an hour each way, yikes!  Anyone have suggestions for cheap bike places in Seattle?  Sure am looking.  The Sula gals and I plan to go to Rock Solid, a club that has free Fridays and salsa tonight... then tomorrow we are hoping to pick berries for jam, swim in Lake Washington, and paint some of the odd house we live in.  There were times yesterday when I questioned my placement, but it forced me to be very present, so that was good.  Have been buskin' on the streets for a little extra dough, but also just to share music.  I've been playing mostly my own stuff on the streets and it's gotten good feedback, which is always fun.  Welp... work starts in a tick... so I best jump off here. 

much love,

megsy

 

thankful list:

-blackberries

-presence

-old men in overalls on the city busses

-busses that run on time

-singing over breakfast

-chocolate tea

-ice cream

-water

limited access!!!!

Hey y'all,

   I have 5 more minutes on the computer here, wanted to share some joy!  Our backyard is all blackberry brambles which inspired a nice song this morning, which I am calling Blackberries.  Lovin' my housemates, am amazed at how well we communicate.  I have a roommate, Melissa, who is sweet as pie.  We live in the "tomato soup room" in our mansion on Beacon hill.... much better accomodations than I expected.  Am grateful for so much!  We plan to tour the city today and walk to Lake Washington tonight... So much love to you all!

megaroni

thought this might be the fastest way to get y'all...

Things are going ggggreat in DC! My housemates are rockstars, very
very sweet... We all have so much to learn from one another and I'm
really excited to do that. We have the afternoon off today, so that's
a nice respite. It's been tiring and wonderful and intense and
amazing already. Everyone needs to read the book Back Off! about
women's self defense... the woman who wrote it is amazing! My heart
is happy to be here and beginning this adventure!
love!
megs

ps-grateful list:
-water!
-music-my housemates are letting me play in our hotel room
-self defense training
-empowerment
-hugs
-laughter
-sunshine
-fresh herbs
-cafeteria ladies

all my bags are packed...

I'm ready to go... 3:11 am here... Just got done climbing my tree.  I looked through the branches for shooting stars, no luck in that dept.... but I was just delighted to be in my tree (I didn't even bump into a cicada, now that's luck!).... this is the last certain Internet access I'll have... who knows from here.  I am sleepy, but glad to be starting this new adventure.  I'm excited to be planning to see some west coast kids soon and of course missing my eastern folks already.  I was hoping to have something moving or clever to say in my last e-mail for a while... but I'm just too much of a sleepy head for anything beautiful.  Love to all.  Here goes nothin!

 

grateful list:

-new beginnings

-postcards

-my sugar maple

-stars

-mama and missy

-pegasus and grams

-jen and her babies

-bub and his garden

-my ber town friends

-a healed foot

-music!

-water

Here I go...
packing... perhaps it's one of those things that needs to happen while staying up all night (even if it's not the night before you leave). I'm planning to send a few boxes of my stuff to Seattle tomorrow. My banjo is all tucked away and cozy in a mattress of tee shirts... I'm reminded of Jessa. It's too bad she's not here, she is and has always been my packing buddy. I will be honest--I did make a few indulgent decisions. I'll be greeted with two boxes of my favorite tea right off the bat... and my salt crystal lamp too. I'm hoping to tie dye tonight... cause I've got a few white things with stains, and I think my tie-dyed thermal shirt is on it's last leg (I got it three years ago at a garage sale for about 20 cents). I'm reminded of a nature and spirituality retreat activity: we went around the (small) group and explained one thing we brought and one thing we deliberately left behind. I am leaving behind my laptop (this makes me reflect on photos, e-mails, recording music, watching dvd's, and other luxurious things). I'm taking two musical instruments, two field guides, and a handful of crazy clothes that are sure to keep me bright through Seattle's dreary days. I know that I've been leaving for years, but this time feels so different because there's no telling when I'll be back around these parts... and because for years I've believed that my plan was to eventually go west... the realization of a dream is quite an interesting feeling :) This really is a whole new chapter in my life!
I have the most beautiful day with missy planned. We are going to read children's books and record them and make ourselves each a cd... then we'll send my boxes... hang out with the grams....play in a sprinkler we got on sale at Kroger's (only for a bit... no worries here!)... then go to the drive in theater and eat mama's homemade pizza roll (as I fall asleep to The Simpson's and some other movie). It is quite the ro-tic day (romantic, without the man!).
My address in Seattle (after Aug. 19) will be:

***I removed my addy, please drop me an e-mail or leave comment if ya'd like it**

... so please drop me a postcard, y'all!

....hmmmm.... sleepy reflections while packing... I'm off to start soaking my tie-dying victims... much, much love.
megasus

grateful list:
-my silly family-they took me out to dinner tonight and we we the noisiest bunch in the place
-giant crickets that hide near missy's bed
-summer
-scouting the football field at night in attempt to figure out when the water the dang thing
-callin' folks
-sleep-when you can get it
-staying up all night-when you can get away with it.... I'm looking forward to the sunrise tomorrow too... it always feels like I gain perspective in the 24 hour-marathon days, because I step outside the normal schedule, usually in solitude... and of course I get loopy from lack of sleep
-Karen Aumick, who says hello to everyone!
-Ricky and Ava
-that A-town kids will be visiting me in Seattle

solidarity vs. charity...

Hey y'all...

    My heart and head have been grappling with the difference between solidarity and charity as I prepare for LVC and finish up a book called The Power of Serving Others.  The book walks the fine line, and I think at times oversteps that line-it is obviously written from a white male perspective. 

    As I reflect on how the arguments apply to my particular placement I think that it would be easy to think of folks with "disabilities" as less "useful" in our society... but I'm looking at it like this: I will help with the things they struggle with (like walking, moving, etc) and they will help me with things I struggle with (like being present, full of humor, and loving people fully).  I think I'm getting the better deal. 

   As for issues of race, intellectually, I understand racism... but in practice, I'm uncertain.  I'm not sure how to respond to loud people or people who seem to dress to the hilt.  I have prejudices against these things.  Not that I haven't seen a loud and fancy dresses white person, but in Berea my experiences of that nature were primarily with African American women in the Ecovillage.  So, I'm pretty sure I will learn a lot living in Seattle. 

    And oh shucks... I'd be lying if I didn't tell you that recently I've had moments of a serious scaredy-cat nature that I am leavin' my folks and this side of the country for an undisclosed amount of time... but I'm thankful for these times, they remind me to pray for presence, and a sense of adventure, flexibility, and acceptance. 

   And the music... of course the music is going well.  It always is.  After my banjo gig at the library tomorrow I will be dedicating myself to learnin' more tunes on the mandolin, so I can do some rockin' in DC at orientation (and airport busking perhaps?). 

   Oh the babes... Ava and Ricky are so angelic.  As I prepare to leave I miss them already.... because I know I will be missing an exciting year (at least) for both of them.  Ricky might be saying a word or two when I visit here again, and Ava will certainly have changed... maybe even grown?

    and a funny note... Pegasus waxed my legs this weekend... they feel so naked!  It was an amusing drawn out endeavor that yeilded many laughs... and now smooth legs (geeze, that's new).  I did it because I already have the potential to stand out in the LVC crowd as agnostic/animist/pluralist-quasi-"hippie" like chicka... I didn't want to blow my cover quite so quickly.  I didn't want to weird folks out before it even started... I want to know people before they can make those judgements.  I'm also hoping that this is a less judgemental Christian crowd than what I experienced at times in Berea.  Overall, I know that each person is an individual and they will likely span the gamut.... I just hope LVC wasn't kidding when they said they wanted spiritual diversity. 

   

much love!

megy sue...

ps-let me know if you'd be interested in my music... I'm up to 7 songs now, hoorah!

 

thankful list:

-water to drink

-music

-Ava and Ricky dear

-taking care of people

-bugs

-the postal service

-always having a roof over my head (unless I escape to the hammock)

-thoughtful readings

-the reunion of two former loves of mine-writing and singing

-being able to walk

-LVC

confession....

Hey y'all...

    Here is my confession: If I had it all my way I might just lounge about and play music for all of my days.  Also:  It's noon and I'm still in pj's pickin' around.  Awwshucks... I do love music these days.  Wrote another song the other day.  Had to get off the interstate to write it before I forgot it.  I am delighted that the LVC folks said it was fine to bring the little mandolin to DC training... Funny, that three months ago I couldn't go a day without running and now my vice is bluegrass... I don't think either are terribly dangerous habits, in fact I might keep 'em both (that is when I'm allowed to run again). 

    oh shucks... my little auntie pegasus just called she's comin' to take me away for a bit... will write more later.

love, love, love!

megsy

 

thankful list:

music!

popsicles

sleep

cats

hammocks

water