Lost without GPS

So yesterday I was walking down the street and was asked by a man where the train station was and what was the easiest way to get there. (I made the poor guy climb up some stairs so that I could point more effectively, sadly only more trees could be seen) I was happy to be able to help him out. However, on the flip side, it seemed strange to see a guy walking around with a GPS device, I've only seen them in cars. Well the directions that he was getting were confusing (turns out cause there are two train stations in Guildford) so he had to stop for directions.

This encounter got me wondering... are GPS things going to hurt our ability to remember directions, like calculators and adding? Are we going to learn to rely so much on this little machine talking to us to tell us where to go and not know how to get there otherwise? As one who used to be quite horrible at directions (it took me years to learn how to get to my dad's house, which involves about three turns.) I don't think that my lack of direction skill was anything more than just not paying attention when heading somewhere. And if we don't pay attention because something is talking to tell us where to go, what will happen with that? And heaven forbid that a GPS (like in the iPhone) doesn't actually talk to you. You actually have to have someone look at it. (not while driving) Whoa!

the importance of dinner

Today I had a few people over for dinner and we laughed and chatted and had a good time just being there and enjoying. How important that is, to be able to sit and be, to enjoy the people that you are around and to get to know them better, to laugh, to eat good food, and to have no where else that you should be at that time. (to even take the time and not answer the phone)

How often in life to we get going so fast that we don't take the time or don't feel like we have the time to stop, to rest. And how much do we miss out of because of that?

what to write

So my friend Joe got deported (again) from England, which makes me a little bit worried. And so I am thinking of everything, every documentation that I could possibly take with me to make sure that I am not deported (again). So bank statements, and an letter from Apple saying I work there full-time (still an exciting thought), and my car lease or house lease papers. And they frown at you if you don't have cash on you. I never carry cash and don't like the idea of having to get some out of the bank, just to carry it to prove that I have money. Do people really still carry cash or cards on average? I use my cards most of the time. (except for a few of my favorite cafes here who only take cash, why I ask, why only take cash? I have been there before and paid with pre-counted change, including many pennies. $2.11 for a never ending coffee for here with soy. Yum. Lovely and then they keep your punch card there so that I don't even have to remember to take it. So the coffee even earns me a free one later, oh happy day indeed.

So back to the topic at hand, getting to go to England. Hopefully the immigration officer will not be reading this and then kick me out of some strange basis. It is strange when you are deported cause you really feel like you have done something wrong. When really, you just didn't fit pre-set criteria. I have been thinking of my journal too cause last time they read that. And so I think about what I have written in it and if that will make it sound like I am planning on staying in the UK forever. And what will I journal in this next week about going to England and will that make me sound like I want to be there for the rest of my life. I should write about how I want to be in Madison now and will be until something happens and there is a very good reason to go somewhere else. (hopefully involving other people coming with or going to other people that I know) That is true. I do like Madison. And I like that I can ride my bike to places, like this morning where I rode to the store to buy coffee to make.

I don't know that I could ever live in a place where I could not walk or ride my bike to coffee shops, stores, or somewhere useful. I don't like being places where you have to get in a car to get anywhere. Perhaps I have been spoiled. Perhaps.

Changing things

So the season is changing, I think. If I could make the warm weather last longer, oh how I would. I stuck my toes in the lake today, while sitting on a rock on the edge. The waves worked their magic and oh what an enjoyable experience. Made me want to take a swim, but alas, I did not have the time.

I wonder how many people deal well with change. I wonder how well I deal with it. I like adventures, I like meeting new people, and new experiences, and yet... I dunno. If I have expectations that are not met, or if I feel like life is out of control, I do not always deal well. But then I take a minute and breathe and pray and then things are usually okay. Or if not, then either I need more time or there need to be things in the circumstances that shift. Sometimes you just have to let go. Sometimes you have to fight for things. How do you know the difference?

the almost ticket

So yesterday I was driving my car, which happens to be fun and amazing and very sleek and aerodynamic, so not really my fault (except it is) that it also happened to be traveling at a velocity that was higher than it should have been. So as I was in the right of three lanes, I looked over to the left of the lanes where there was a police officer driving in his car. We made eye contact and I was starting to pass by him. At that point, my foot hit the break pedal in a way that moved my car a safer distance away from his. Whoa.

Home

I think that each person who possibly can, should without question come to this event. Where else can you meet people from all over the globe with a heart for prayer and time to get to chat to them? This will be the forth, whoa!, of such gatherings that I will have the privilege of attending. And as time goes on, I get to know more people and then connect up with them again at these gatherings. Fabulous!

I can't wait to go to England. And the time that I am going is coming quickly. I will leave Chicago at night on the 8th of September and will get to be in England until the 23rd. How exciting! Yet, I am trying not to get too excited because I am working on being present and here and plus it makes my heart hurt to want to be there.

I bought stuff for my apartment today. A shower curtain and rug, very exciting. Yet, having to pick things out is hard when I don't have someone with me to bounce opinions off of. Sometimes it is helpful to have someone around to help me decide what I think. And then I went to Goodwill and bought a really ugly chair because it is really comfy and cost $20. I can cover it and then have such a comfy place to sit. Yeah!

Rain in Georgia

Today is a rainy day, which means a day that me and my little sis went to the movies and saw Wall-e. It is great to get to spend time with family.

Also lately I have been thinking again about the idea of sabbath and resting. I am not a person who is always that good and simply being present. Usually there are things in my head that I am scheming or sorting or things that I should do. But what a joy and help to just stop. I am all about enjoying coffees and meals and chats. What does stopping look like for you? How do you let go of the responsibility of everyday?