Sunday, October 9, 2011

Homesick for Home

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 I love fall. As I've gotten older, it's become my favorite season, not only because it includes my birthday, but because it's such a beautiful time of year.  This picture was taken last year when I went home for a weekend right around harvest time. Dad's still pretty old fashioned with his two-row picker, but it sure gets the job done (and makes use of Grandpa's equipment!)

Last night, I watched the movie "13 Going on 30." I forgot how much I enjoy that movie, and spent the rest of my evening living life through the eyes of a 13 year old. It was liberating in a way, smiling and laughing at funny things I saw around the house. Next time I need a pick-me-up and a step away from adult life, I'll watch that movie.

There's a scene in the movie where Jenna return home and sits in a closet trying to send her 30 year old self back to her 13 year old self. Her parents come home and find her, and she gives them huge hugs. For some reason, I cried at this point, something I've never done before. So, it's logical that today, when the day is a perfect fall day, the trees are a rainbow of red, yellow, and orangey tints, and the weather is quintessentially fall, I'm finding myself a little homesick, both for home and for my childhood. Not to worry, I'm not homesick enough to sit at my computer and cry. I'm just homesick enough to remember all the wonderful things I did at home during the fall season.

 While I may not get home in time to see this sight again, I can still remember all the good times associated with fall.

Things like:
- raking leaves into huge piles and burying myself at the bottom
- piling all the leaves into the truck and pushing them off the back while Mom drove down the cornfield
- apple. cider. Enough said.
- carving pumpkins
- making a giant corn shock in the middle of the yard around the lightpole, and later using it as a fort.
- campfires anytime and every time the weather was gorgeous
- taking a family drive up north along the Mississippi River to Gutenburg to have a picnic and look at the trees changing color
- walking down to the creek
- driving tractor to help with the Harvest (or bouncing around the field in the gray truck with Stephanie White)


What are some of your favorite memories or activities of fall?



Thursday, October 6, 2011

Awkward and Awesome Thursday

Happy Thursday! That means the weekend is almost here, and life will finally begin breathing again. This week kinda came up and slapped me in the face (or as Alex said so succinctly in class, "knocked me down and kicked me a couple times"). Thankfully, there's light at the end of the tunnel, and 3 blessed days where I am able to do homework!
Here's this week's edition of Awkward and Awesome's!

Awkward
- Receiving three phone calls from random numbers, especially from one 000-000-0000. Not suspicious at all.
- Trying to find my way around my practicum on my first day - this school has TWO floors! And misleading signs.
- Trying to remember the names of my neighbors in order to attend their birthday party, and failing miserably.
- Making eye contact with a random stranger while driving back from Bondurant."Oh, hello, I'm just going to keep singing to this song. Don't mind me..."
- Attempting to start a difficult conversation, on the phone, and failing miserably.

Awesome
- Picking up my brand new Homecoming jacket, and learning of the CAMO GATOR for Homecoming! I'm excited to drive that bad boy.
- The amount of faculty who have been e-mailing me with interest in the Homecoming contest.
- Celebrating my sister's birthday Friday night, and my birthday on Sunday.
- Quidditch on central campus. hysterical. especially watching my father's facial expressions while he watched.
- Being on the football field when the players ran out to start the game (and my free game ticket!
- Being hired as a tutor
- My Panera coffee date with my mother. We always have so much to talk it about, and I value our relationship as more than mother/daughter, but friends.

Now, go outside to enjoy one of the last days of Indian summer for me! I've gotta pay some bills...