I'm home

Arrived safely on US soil Thursday afternoon. It feels so great! Really I practically knocked over my dad hugging him at the airport. I've already checked three things off my "American foods I'm craving" list. Thin Mint Blizzard on the way home from the airport, Waffle House breakfast yesterday morning, and for dinner last night... can you say PIZZA from Mellow Mushroom! I've also started working on sorting out my life here. Already picked up a new cell phone and reactivated my old number. Text or phone if you have the number... as I'm trying to update my old contact info. Picked up a few applications for some part time work and will start looking for a car next week.

But this weekend, I'm celebrating. Tonight several of my best friends are headed my way for dinner. Tomorrow grandparents, uncle, and a sister or two will make the journey for church and lunch afterward. In the midst of it all I'm still trying to get on the right schedule. Going to bed at what is an appropriate EST time 10 to 10:30 both nights, but waking up so so early. Yesterday exactly at 6AM and this morning at 5:30. At least I have a sweet dog, Tootie, who is cool with keeping me company until my parents who can sleep to a decent hour are up.

Lots of updates to come... of my time at Taize and in Paris. Stay tuned.

Just, Margaret

Act, Love, Walk

When I think about what I'm looking forward to returning to in the United States, I think superficially of foods and amenities (free laundry, my own bathroom and queen sized pillow top mattress [smile]). And of course people are on my list... I'll have not seen most of my family for 10 months when I finally arrive home. But I am just as excited about joining in again in the life of my church community.

The sermon this morning used the passage from Micah 6- "What does the Lord require of you? To act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God." The passage felt relevant not only with the thoughts I've been giving particularly to discerning my future, but also my prayers that God might reveal ways in which I might serve within my home church community while I am in transition. While the priest focused mostly on the explication of the virtues mentioned in the passage, he also spent a few minutes to emphasize the verbs- something that felt new to me. I realized anew that God calls me to action within the church, not just passive attendance. Its exciting to think of the possibilities and I pray I will be connected with others who share this call to action.

Just, Margaret

On the verge of tears

I feel overwhelmed by emotions today... a not so unusual feeling these days. I write this not really to complain or seek companions with whom to commiserate. In fact, I actually feel blessed by the opportunity and capacity to feel and experience emotion. And when my eyes do begin to tear its more a catharsis than annoyance. I'm not sure I can articulate why I am so capable of weeping these days... stress from my tight deadline looming, joy at completing another year of study, excitement at the possibility of being home in Georgia in a month and four days, anticipation of my parents arrival in Bristol in just two weeks, uncertainty of where my journey will next take me, rapture at the natural changing of seasons, sadness at having to say goodbye to the place that has become my home and to friends.

So many seasons of my life are converging these days and I weep, but in a good way.

Just, Margaret

[tear]

I was originally supposed to fly home tomorrow... that is when I booked my flight (roundtrip) last summer. I did book the flight with the thought that I might have to change it later. Still because of the screwed up policies of an airline that shall remain nameless today as I'm canceling my flight for tomorrow I can't help but feel slightly homesick and ready to go home. Really, it would be so nice to have a quick visit... I've got too much left to do to leave for good. Gotta keep telling myself that's not a possibility at least not yet. October 8th, my D-Day, will come and I can head home to my family, our sweet dog, my purple room and the porch in Broxton, and my WELCOME HOME PARTY (see flyer above)! If you might be able to attend, shoot me an email to let me know you're interested in more details. Should be fun, especially since I've not had a real birthday party in years. Until then its something to look forward too at least.

Just, Margaret

Rocky Road Ice Cream

I didn't know until I stumbled upon it today that Bristol actually has a Baskin Robins. I've eaten ice cream from BR since I was really little. My first memories of eating ice cream are of having some at BR. So its a special place to me and when I saw the logo in Bristol's Galleries Mall today I did a double take and then walked toward the case not breathing in what felt like slow motion movie style wishing that Rocky Road was a standard flavor in this country too. And it is! I must have seemed absolutely insane to the girl behind the counter, muttering something about how I couldn't believe they had Rocky Road ice cream, how I must have a scoop in a cup, and thanking her profusely for a stocking my favorite flavor of ice cream on the planet though I know she had no control over it. I went on to explain that I hadn't enjoyed any Rocky Road ice cream since I had last been home in December. Turned out she likes Rocky Road too and felt it was a pleasure to sell their last scoop to someone who enjoyed it as much as her (I'm not making that up she actually said that). [smile]

It tasted just as I remembered it and I had to fight back tears as I enjoyed the first few bites. I guess I've been feeling a bit homesick... now that the visits from Blair and Adam and Janell and Emily are over. Today the Rocky Road was my gift of home.

Just, Margaret

King Cake Query

I'm looking for a good and fairly easy recipe for Mardi Gras King Cake. I'd really like to try making one for my international housemates and share another part of my US Southern culture with them.  Too bad I didn't bring any of my Mardi Gras Beads with me.  Any suggestions for the cake would be very welcome. 

Just, Margaret

A British tea in Georgia

A few days before I left Georgia, my mom, Aunt June (not really an aunt, but a dear family friend), and I sat down together for tea.  Our menu included tea imported from Bath, Cadbury chocolate, wedding cookies (a Southern delicacy homemade by my grandmother), and blueberry scones baked by my mother that morning.  The scones were made using a recipe we found before Christmas.  They don't taste exactly like scones I've had in England, but pretty close and dare I say it... a little better... maybe its just the extra sweetness of being homemade by my mom.  [smile]  I'll try to get the recipe from my mom and post it soon.  See photo below of our "tea party" with my mom on the right and Aunt June on the left.  

This other photo obviously has nothing to do with the "tea party" pictured are my dad and our sweet dog in front of the fireplace.  During my last week at home our warm Southern winter was replaced by several bitterly cold days... which meant we could use our fireplace.  I love sitting in front of an open fire.  There is just nothing better... so warm and inviting on a cold evening and there are usually few days in Georgia that it gets cold enough to really enjoy the warmth.  

Just, Margaret  

MIA

I feel like I need to apologize for my absence.  I think that these 19 days (25 if you don't count my mini post on New Years) is the longest I've gone without posting since beginning this blog.  I won't try to make excuses except to say that I've tried over that time to consciously live into all the moments I've had while at home on vacation.  Some of you already know this, but when I left the US on Saturday I began a nine month period of being away.  Nine months isn't the longest I've ever been away from home, but it will be the longest I've ever been in a different country.  And no matter how great the internet (aka Skype and email) is for keeping in touch its just not exactly the same as being able to pick up my cell and call friends or family whenever.  And knowing that I can't just decide to take a long road trip back to Georgia from Louisiana or even North Dakota is a little hard.  So please forgive my absence and perhaps consider it a reminder of the joy that can come from living in the present.  

Just, Margaret

I'll be home for Christmas!

After a 3 hour 40 minute bus ride, waiting in the airport for 2ish hours, a 9 hour flight, hopefully just about 45 minutes through customs and baggage claim, then a 2 1/2 hour ride on Groom, I will officially be home.  

Just, Margaret

Georgia On My Mind

So the last couple of days have had me thinking of home and Georgia quite a bit... at the beginning of the week I received a pound cake, yes a homemade pound cake, in the mail from my Grammy.  I literally could not believe it, but leave it to my grandmother to defy the postal service.  I mean I thought it was awesome when I received pecan pies in the mail when I was living in North Dakota, but I never expected to receive a cake in the mail.  And of course it still tastes amazing!  I shared it with some of my housemates and I think I've convinced them all that they need to visit Georgia if only to get another piece of pound cake from my Grammy.  (I will say in addition to care packages of grandparent love, I also had the treat on Monday night of receiving a lovely Skype call from Mom and Pop.  So much fun to speak and see them at the same time.)  It has turned into a week of care packages... yesterday I received one from my friends in Louisiana.  I was almost in tears while I read Kayla's letter begging me to come back.  And the Twizlers were a special treat as I've not been able to find them in the UK yet.  I also have to say a thanks to my faithful blog readers in Louisana... I'm so glad to know that you guys are following along on all my adventures.  It really makes me feel close to you.  

Then this morning I received an emails from Blair and Megs about a recent post on Blair's blog Curbside Conference.  It was all about my friends (the girls, The Nine, ect.  I've talk about them at least once before).  Lovely post and the best part is that the sentiments could have been written by any of us although I have to give Blair props for her eloquence.  I especially loved how she wrote about "living in overlapping forms"- thats exactly how it feels.  And the post that inspired her by Sara brought up such great memories of college.  After checking my email and feeling so close to my fellow alumni, I noticed that the predicted temperature here and in Warner Robins, where my parents are was exactly the same.  So as I walked to class, I imagined for a bit that I was walking through Georgia.  It is so nice to connect in small ways with home.  Especially since Thanksgiving is coming up so soon.  

Anyway, there are so much about my archaeological adventures yesterday that I want to share, but as my photos aren't loaded on my computer yet that will have to wait for tomorrow.  

Just, Margaret