Monday, November 21, 2005

life’s a party (the victory lap)

Please join me. I’m dancing by the computer, the music is loud, I have cinnamon-vanilla coffee, and I’m celebrating!! (So how could you resist??)

My honors thesis is DONE! Bring out the decibels and caffeine. (Especially the caffeine. I feel like I got hit by a truck.)

Okay, so it’s technically done. (I’ll stop dancing and tell you about it.) Three short stories (except they aren’t very short) and an explanatory essay, plus two full pages of bibliography. Wow. Sixty-one pages of majesty, though it could probably stand a few more months of research and revision. But isn’t that the way of things? At least it’s at the point where I’m not ashamed of it. And it’s turned in. Good enough for me! (My poor supervisors, though. They get to spend Thanksgiving break grading it.)

And I had an amazing weekend. I know such wonderful people!! I got to spend time with nearly all of my dearest friends this weekend, either in person or on the phone. So wonderful. I feel so blessed. My suitemates from freshman year were here, and we went to World Market—a major favorite. I finally bought two sarongs, which I have been daydreaming about for five months. They are beautiful. I pretend I know how to wear them Indian-style, draped around my shoulders, mimicking my good friend Maria. (Except she can pull it off. I can’t. Sigh.)

And then yesterday, I skipped out on my thesis for four hours to spend time with Sarah, Laura, and Maria at the Gospel Choir concert and then dinner. It was one of those dilemmas: I was sitting surrounded by phrases and clauses that weren’t quite right, arguments begging for critical-source backup, and underdeveloped dialogue.

Versus three of my best friends—who would all be leaving soon—and a worship service. Oh, and food. Nourishment on three levels.

I took the break. It was so worth it. The concert—worship service, as the choir reminded us—was amazing. We sat in the third row, and by the song “Glorious” we couldn’t sit anymore, so the four of us jumped up to clap and sing with the choir and most of the audience.

Such a relief to get refocused. Sometimes I feel nearsighted when it comes to why I’m here. I’m horribly nearsighted when it comes to vision—yikes—but I can also get really uptight about school work and deadlines. Which is all very important: that’s why I came to Calvin, why I care about school. But there are times when I really need to realize that I’m here to praise God. With my mind, yes, but also with my voice and heart.

So yesterday was good. (Though I was this close to tears at the song “Till We Meet Again,” the typical Gospel Choir closer. Because I was standing with three of my best pals, and who knows when all four of us will be together again? We all say soon. I pray so.)

Okay, then we spent a few hours over dinner, catching up, passing pictures, laughing. A lot of laughing. And the food was amazing. (Two words: lobster ravioli. Oh wait, and three more: caffe latte cheesecake. UNbelievable.) And it’s good to be at a place where you can draw on your table. We left some very flattering crayon portraits behind.

I’m torn between joy and fear at having such wonderful travel-minded friends… Within a matter of months, each of us may be on a different continent. Isn’t that insane? One to India, one to Honduras, one quite possibly to Africa. And me, here in Grand Rapids. (Though I have secret dreams of working in Cambridge, England for a publishing company. Okay, not so secret anymore.) If only I had a private jet. And lots of time. But we’re promising to visit often, never mind the distance. (Yet another good friend is off to Hungary soon… what am I going to do? Thank God for email.)

Anyway, such wonderful friends. Then I said goodbye to all, and finished stringing phrases and sources and dialogue together, printed off my thesis, and bent a few staples trying to get the whole thing together. (Yeah, gave up on that.)

So now it’s packing, working on a few last-minute assignments, and heading home tomorrow! You might not hear from me for a little while… I’ll be busy digesting turkey in St. Louis. Happy Thanksgiving!—jl

Posted by Jenn Langefeld on 11/21 at 12:09 PM
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