"Thou Mayest"

 - East of Eden, John Steinbeck

This is my second attempt at writing tonight. The first involved an extended rant about holidays like Valentine's Day and how I dislike them. Then I got booted from a coffee shop that was closing. I walked around the city looking for a new coffee shop.  Downtown Seattle, couples of all shapes and sizes walking by hand-in-hand. I realized I don't begrudge them a thing. I watched a guy playing his guitar, hula-hoop in constant motion. Life is too good to complain my way through it. So best wishes for those couples who are enjoying the day, and I hope it provides them an opportunity to express their love for one another. This isn't my year. Chances are I'll be back in Sudan this time next year, so that probably won't be my year either. But that's ok by me. Tonight I'll steer away from narcissistic reflections on loneliness, and praise God for the cappuccino I'm drinking and the chance I've had to see a new city this week. 

Seattle: Drove out with my brother Adam. He is moving here, so we took his car and I fly back tomorrow. Love the city. Pike Place Market is sweet, energetic, street performers (though not enough really), great food stalls to choose from, and a general hippy/friendly sort of vibe. And I actually speak the right language to talk to people there. Went to a Sonics game and saw the Jazz blast them. It was cool though. Art Museum seemed good, but I don't know how to compare it to anything else. Had three panels from the "Gates of Paradise" originally from the Florence Cathedral. I think this is the only time they will ever be displayed outside of Florence and they were sweet. Maybe the highlight of the trip actually.

Also saw Denver a little bit while visiting our Aunt and Uncle on the way out. Good times with them, and we were able to see Pastor Scott, my old youth pastor, and probably the most influential person in me being a Christian. Denver seems cool too. Hard to imagine moving either there or Seattle and ever wanting to move back to Toledo. 

Life Update: Sudan was great, but for various reasons I left in December. In a few months I will either go to grad school or go back with Samaritan's Purse (in Sudan probably). Unless I get rejected by all the grad schools (possible, darn my 2.97 GPA) and SP doesn't want me back. Then I guess I'll go work at Jimmy John's for the rest of my life. There are worse ways to go :) In the meantime I'll see a few friends around the Midwest, and then in March, me and Jon Fortune are going south, then west, then south with the '92 Lebaron, into Latin America until the car dies. We just hope it doesn't die in Kentucky. 

Some people ask, "why are you doing that?" and I ask in all sincerity, "why wouldn't we??" How is it ever a bad decision to adventure through an entire continent or two if you have the chance? You all can work your 40 hour a week jobs and have families and responsibility. As for me, I'll be kickin it on the beach in Brazil. To each their own.

I'll write some deeper Sudan reflections later maybe. 

Or maybe not.