Crazy Random Happenstance(s)

What a week it has been.

First I drove out to Minnesota for a short trip to be with my dad's side of the family after the passing of his mother. It was an emotionally draining three day weekend with a seven hour drive at the beginning and end of it. But, as usually is the case in these kind of situations, it was good to see family. Including my parents.

It was on the way back that things started going downhill. I got back to Chicago in good time on Sunday and my super awesome roommate, Amber, had ordered Thai for us to have for dinner while we caught up. I was so focused on getting out of the car and being done with my drive that I left one of my overnight bags in the middle of the street. And had no idea I had left it there until several hours later. Normally it wouldn't have been such a big deal, just a few clothes, but my camera was in the bag. With the memory card containing my photos from my recent trip to Haiti. This was what hurt me the most. I mean sure, I was a bit bummed to lose the clothes and other items that were in there (some of which I can't even remember) but it was the memories that those photos contained . Luckily, just the day before I had a few minutes to post a few photos onto my Facebook account, so they are present there. And I know that my friends from the trip will gladly share their photos with me.

I did end up posting a few signs right on my street just in case one of the neighbors had happened to pick it up, but I wasn't counting on that. I just wanted to be a bit proactive in trying to find out what might have happened to my bag. I also called the police and filed a report. And I talked to one of my neighbors and had a really good conversation with them that involved a few tears on my part and lots of soothing words from Carmen and Dirk. I really appreciated the conversation.

Then on Monday two things happened. First, my car door broke. And I about flipped out. I mean, common, really? On top of everything else, now I have to fix my car door too? On the bright side, at least I could still shut it so I could drive home. It just made things a bit complicated. But then the second thing happened. I got a call from a woman down the street who saw my sign and said she thought she saw my bag out behind the dumpster that goes along with her apartment building. I actually couldn't believe that I heard something from anyone. And so when I got home, I left everything in my car and went down the ally, which, mind you, is the one behind my own apartment building, and sure enough I looked into the dumpster, and there was my bag along with several of the lost items. Yay for having nice neighbors who pay attention to signs and strange things in their neighborhood.

Of course there was no camera, but at least the mystery was solved. My bag was stolen off the street. Taken half way down my own ally and gone through. Things of supposed value were taken. The rest was left behind. It's a crazy world out there.

And as for my car door. I am lucky to have a good friend here in the city who was willing to look at it and he was ultimately able to fix it. Thank goodness for him!

Now, in case you're wondering the whole week wasn't a total wash. And I have to remind myself of this. I had several great conversations with a couple of my best friends. I was able to get out and play tennis one night; beach volleyball out on Lake Michigan another night; and then the summer ultimate league I ended up playing for won their league championship game. Go Albino Death Wheel (aka: Fuzzy Bunnies).

Whew. Now if that is not a rather crazy random week, well, I don't know what is. And hopefully things will calm down next week. Or, hopefully at least I won't be as forgetful as I have been this week. I think that's all I can ask for.

Significant Event

So here I am back in the blog-0-sphere attempting to start again with writing down some of my experiences and thoughts. It seems the trend is that when something significant happens in my life I feel the urge to sit down on this thing and see what comes out. As a bit of an update, I've been working for the last nine months as a sales associate at one of the four REI's here in Chicago and for the last six months as a nanny to a super cute two year old named Harper. It actually has worked out really well because I need both jobs to get by and my nannying job is so flexible that it works in around my ever changing work schedule at REI.

Now on to the significant event. I just returned from a week in Haiti. And I realized a few things.

1. Working in retail is not exactly rewarding work. At least it's not for me forever.

Now don't get me wrong, there is absolutely nothing wrong with working in retail. I have actually really enjoyed my time so far with REI. And as far as retail goes, I'm glad that it is with REI. I enjoy helping people prepare to do cool things like hike the Grand Canyon, or travel to Kenya and many other cool destinations. For several months now I've been thinking of a bit of a time line for myself. Enjoy my summer travels that I had and have planned, work as much as I can when I'm here and then come fall start looking again at job possibilities. And in order to look for jobs I need to figure out what direction I want my life to take (and that's a story for another time).

2. At some point in the future I would really like to adopt if possible.

For awhile now I have had the thought process that I can't justify bringing another child into this world when there are so many children who need a loving home. On my recent trip to Haiti I was able to visit an orphanage and the children there simply melted my heart. And one of the guys on this trip with me has a little girl that he and his family adopted from Haiti (this was how we ended up at this particular orphanage). I will say that there was one good outcome of the earthquake that hit Port au Prince in January of 2011, it expedited the adoption process of many children from Haiti who otherwise would still be waiting clearance to come to the United States.

So that's it for now. More to come soon.

Up North

I can now say that I've been to northern Wisconsin. I can also say that I really REALLY want to go camping. I've been invited to go up north to Eagle River Wisconsin now for about three years and this past weekend I finally made it. It was a relaxing weekend full of rest and good food. And bald eagle sightings. And a lone wolf making it's way across our path. And good use of pie irons. And starry nights. And campfires. And relaxing boat rides. And photography. And good company. Though the distance was far (about seven hours in the car each way) the trip was totally worth it! And I hope to make it back up to Eagle River sometime soon!

3 AM

It's three am on a Friday morning and I have found myself sitting here at the computer in my apartment which is a bit more empty in some ways and busier in others. My dad has been out here with me for a few days visiting here in Chicago as well as taking a mini road trip out to the Twin Cities of Minnesota.

And he just started making his drive back home to Virginia. At three in the morning! So things are a bit quite around these here parts now.

But somewhere there is a cat prowling around. Or maybe he's sleeping. But he's keeping his eye out! As of yesterday I became a foster mom to Festy, a two year old cat that belongs to a good friend of mine. And though he's not entirely sure what's going on (and neither am I for that matter), hopefully soon he'll settle into the new place.

Well, hopefully we both will!

It's Official...

It's official...as of today I'm no longer a volunteer. Three years ago I moved to Elgin from Bridgewater. And about three weeks ago I started moving from Elgin into my new apartment in Chicago. So now I find myself in uncharted territory. No clear path laid out for me. No one to say 'hey Sharon, you should do this!'

The only thing that I know is that I'll be living (well, am living in Chicago since I moved all my stuff out here a week ago) in Chicago on the north side with a good friend of mine. Beyond that, I'm not entirely sure. I'm looking for work. I hope to get involved with some of the Ultimate Frisbee that Chicago has to offer, whether it's through more pick up or league play. Experiencing city life through biking along the lake front, attending a Broadway musical or two (once I have a steady income of course). And simply experiencing city life.

Today was a bitter sweet day to say the least. Saying goodbye to a great community of colleagues and friends at the Church of the Brethren offices. Starting a new part of my adventure, my journey. Wondering how I will be able to continue connecting with a denomination that I love and continue to find my voice and figure out who I am and who I want to be.

And so a new chapter begins on this journey of mine. And here we go

Engaged in Conversation

Today I was able to spend a little bit of time connecting with a gentlemen at work. What started out as an intentional 'work' related meeting turned into a great conversation. After we got through the so called business, our conversation moved from personal experiences and what's coming up in the future to what we intentionally chose to have surrounding us in our own spaces to community life and relationships we have with one another. It was a really positive experience and an hour well spent I would say. There is so much to be gained by taking the time to connect with one another face to face whenever we possibly can.

I find that with my work so much of it revolves around conversation. And getting to know one another and what we like and don't like, and who we are as individuals and in relationship with one another. It's so important to take that time and to not be in a hurry to rush off to get something else done. But to really engage with one another.

I feel like I am constantly coming back to this idea. And it's interesting because I have discovered that while I am a very relational person I don't particular care to be around a lot of people at once. I prefer to talk with folks one on one and I can be fully engaged and responsive. When I am in a group of people I find that I typically sit back and let the conversation happen around me. Don't get me wrong, it's not that I'm not paying attention, it's just what I've learned to do. I enjoy listening to other people's thoughts and ideas and if I have something to add then I will, but typically I'm simply a presence without a lot to say.

My somewhat limited international travel has taught me some of this. To not focus on the work at hand, but to take the time to sit down and talk and discuss and learn and grow. You don't simply approach someone and ask them for a cup of sugar or an egg or for the latest report. But you take the time to ask how they are. How their family is. And their work. And then, maybe, you ask for that thing you initially came searching for.

In many ways this is our work, or at least maybe it should be. To show interest through, and to be engaged in conversation, is a way that we all have something in common with one another. The ability to show compassion and caring and love, and that ultimately we are all the same. To find common ground and then build on it. To be able to talk with one another and be open is the beginnings to...well, to almost everything.

Being Intentional

So my writing this year hasn't been the great. In fact, it has been almost non-existent! I don't know if it will change, but I'm going to try a bit harder to be more intentional about writing.

I find myself referring to many things that I hope to do as 'intentional.' I don't know why or when this shift has changed. But I find myself saying things like "when I live in the city I hope to be more intentional about..." this or the other thing. You know, like not eating out as much, buying my groceries more locally, being more aware of how to live a green lifestyle, walking or taking public transportation as much as possible and finding work so that is possible. The list could go on and on.

I think this is one thing being in BVS has showed/taught me. By being introduced to people who care about being intentional with one another, with the world, with life, with creation. All those individuals played a part in shaping the person I am now, and the person I want to be when I'm not longer officially a volunteer. So I am hoping to take this with me and introduce others to this way of living as well. Including my future roommate! It will be an adventure to see how our lives connect and how we are able to push and encourage one another in the different lives we've been leading. But I'm looking forward to living intentionally with one other person, who happens to be a good friend of mine. And to set up shop in the city of Chicago. It's gonna be a good time. :)