God is a blogger...

So...apparently God must read my blog, because I just received an electronic postcard from Him via MeetMeInChicago.com. Now I can't wait to go to Chicago next weekend so I can hang out with Him...cuz apparently that's where He wants to meet. And hopefully while I'm there, He and I can discuss why He wants me to be a showgirl in Vegas...

You've got mail...

Lately I've been experiencing some inner turmoil about my impending graduation and subsequent vocation. Because of the campaign work I've been doing right now, I basically have a job in Lansing (provided my candidates win their races...fingers will be permanently crossed for the next 10 days), and I have some really amazing contacts to carry me through there.

BUT, and this is a big but, being involved in state politics has a major drawback, that being the fact that I'd have to live and work in Michigan. And for those of you who know me best, and others who know me just a little, Michigan has never been a dream working destination for Megan. Ever since attending North Park, my heart has longed for the city, and I have spent many a frustrated day being cooped up in the suburbs. Chicago has always been the immediate post-graduation goal.

So...the debate in my head comes down to this. Do I take the seemingly "smart" path and stick with the great contacts and opportunities, or do I follow the dream path through the clouds and pack my bags and head for the places I've always thought I would love? I've always been a firm believer in doing the things we love and living the lives we truly want to live, but what if the opportunities here in MI are just a stepping stone to arriving at one of those "this is absolutely what I love" vocations? Do we choose safety over adventure? Do we put our faith in what may come, or what is already known?

Even as I write this, my heart knows what the answer to this quandry is. My head hasn't quite let go of the alternative option, but in time I'm sure it will fall into line. Living life is hard. I've always wished that God would put a little postcard in the mail for me, simply explaining the correct path for my life in five or six neat little bullet points. But alas, I've yet to receive such a postcard, and thusly, the battle continues on in my crazy crazy brain...

Pretty Hair Day...

So remember when I hosted "What Not to Wear" in my sister's closet? Well, my niece Olivia kindly styled my hair that day while we watched her mother try on many ill-fitting outfits. It's a good look for me, isn't it?

We are all just people...

This past week I was priviledged to staff a fundraiser where the Governor of Massachusets, Mit Romney, was present, as well as one of Michigan's gubernatorial candidates. At the close of the evening, after the well-paying guests and supporters trickled out of the ballroom, I was able to catch a unique happening that made me smile.

The gubernatorial candidate, having spent his evening greeting guests, shaking hands, engaging in casual banter, was standing near the hors d'oeuvres table. As the preceeding hours had not allowed for a moment to eat, he was partaking of some nourishment. One of the large stainless steel warmers housed small polenta rounds. While glancing over at the candidate, I witnesed him plucking the small, golden morsels directly from their shiny metal home. There was no use of a fork. There was no use of tongs. Only two mortal fingers...God's original eating utensils I suppose.

It struck me, while watching this strangely unorthodox display, that before my very eyes was a real human. Not a millionaire. Not a celebrity. Not a politician. But instead, an exhausted, hungry man, who was tired of dealing in formalities. Silver tongs and fancy china were not necessary. Champagne flutes and crystal goblets were not the order of the moment. Instead, just a simple equation: finger food + two fingers + one mouth = happy tummy :)

WE ARE ALL JUST PEOPLE. It's a phrase I remind myself of often--mostly when reading about celebrities and when fighting the urge to be intimidated by those around me. Some of us possess a lot more money than others, some of us have jobs that seem to be way more important, some have lists of credentials that don't quit. But at the core, WE ARE ALL JUST PEOPLE who long for things like love, comfort, truth, honesty, and community. That's all there is to it. Really. Just flesh and bone people. Some days we may find ourselves at the top of the heap, somedays buried at the bottom. But we're all in this together. And at the end of the day, WE ARE ALL JUST PEOPLE.

The Den Mother...

Last weekend we celebrated my roommate Meghan's 21st birthday. As you can imagine, a good time was had by all, but not too good of a time. Everyone was safe and sound at the end of the evening--no worries :)

Have I ever told you how much I love my roommates? We're ridiculous really. We all have busy schedules, so we're usually only together at night. But we make the most of our time--gathering in the living room and talking about our days, watching our favorite tv shows (or complete DVD seasons of the Gilmore Girls) together, talking about the latest celeb gossip, attempting to do homework, working on puzzles (yah, I know...we're really cool like that), drinking wine, and laughing hysterically. We laugh a lot. I love that.

It's funny how people fall into roles when they live with others. It will come as no surprise to you that I am the den mother. My roommate Kate takes care of the utilities and bills, I handle the stern "talking-to's" that sometimes need to take place. The "but I just really love him, even though he sucks at life" boyfriend chats, the "I'm really ticked at this roommate" complaints, and the classic "my family makes me crazy" rantings. That's my area of household expertise. Those are the issues that I sometimes take up, even when they don't want to talk about them.

How about you? Have an issue to rant or rave about? Falling victime to the "paralysis of analysis?" Throw it at me. The doctor is in. I can't promise that I'll give you helpful advice, but at least it's free :)

Home Sweet Krgystan

My friend Jill is currently living in Krgystan with the Peace Corps. She has had lots of crazy experiences, and I love getting her e-mails and reading up about the randomness that is her life. Here's an excerpt from her last e-mai:

"Now onto relaying the events of my first weeks at work…The actual
teaching and being in the classroom has been going fine, as I am still
somewhat of a novelty here. I'm finding their level of English is
very low, while their excitement to learn is high. I'm only hoping
that it will continue on as we phase out of the introduction stage and
into the simple present progressive and so on…My second day on the job
as it was explained to me was a school holiday. Not surprising in this
country where every major and seemingly minor event can be turned into
a reason for celebration. Note that I have already had 4 school
holidays interrupt my classes and class schedule in the first 2 weeks
of teaching. Anyways, for this particular holiday I sat through an
outdoor assembly filled with speeches, applause, and the hot sun only
to find out that my afternoon classes had been cancelled. I was
pretty unaware of what all the pomp and circumstance was about until
some of my 10th grade students informed me they had elected a new
student body president, a guy named Emil who has taken the English
name Eminem for my English class. Rap music is very popular here.
Anyways, these girls told me about the school dance that was taking
place that night and asked me if I would come… Condensing the next few
hours, for your sake, I debated back and forth about showing up at the
High school dance for a few reasons: I'm the new teacher, I'm the new
American in town, and because I didn't know how acceptable it would be
for me to dance, which I would OBviously do if I attended. I found
out that other teachers were going, probably to chaperone, so I
decided to go. Unfortunately, I made the grievous error of showing up
"on time" a highly unpopular thing to do, but I think I was able to
recover my image… Throughout the evening I was invited to join
different dance circles, pose in pictures, and even help DJ a couple
of times, which was sorely needed as we danced to two songs nearly the
entire evening a popular rap song by some French guy and a classic hit
by the ever popular 50 cent. Mostly I devoted my evening to: dancing
away from the male students, dancing away from some of the weird/old
male faculty, and just thoroughly enjoying myself. I found out later
that they only hold this one dance once each year, I think I'm going
to try to change that if I can, perhaps set aside one of my English
Clubs to organizing school dances in order to help build community and
fraternity, and to help these students get a larger music repertoire."

On the campaign trail...

This past summer in Traverse City I interned for the MI state senator from the 37th district. I've continued my involvement in the political arena thru some local campaigns here in Grand Rapids, and three to four days a week you'll find me on the campaign trail in and around the area doing whatever needs to be done. I might be knocking on doors. I might be dropping literature. I might be waving in a parade. I might be answering phones. Rest assured I'm always shaking hands and kissing babies. Just polishing up my skills for a future run at the White House :)

The political arena is a very interesting place and political campaigns are even more interesting. You do random things. You meet eccentric people. You take crazy phone calls. You field paranoid questions.

But, as nutty as the whole deal is, I'm really enjoying my experience. I've met all sorts of intriguing people and visited the smallest of small-town Michigan. I've heard colorful commentary on any topic you can imagine, and I've smiled and nodded thru it all. I've grown to love the sound of front doors closing and locking behind me as I waltz down a home's front stairs, as though the crazy little Asian girl is going to break in and leave her literature against their will.

Ah yes...it's a bizarre activity, political campaigning, but perpetually entertaining and strangely rewarding for some. Like me, I suppose. Always amused by the trappings of this silly American life...

Henry David Thoreau

“You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment.”

“I have learned this at least by my experiment: that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.”