Monday, May 25, 2009

Lets Hug It Out!!

I was lying in bed last night thinking about who knows what and I started thinking about some of the talks I had back in England with the Feltwell Crew about physical touch. Which got me thinking about hugs, which got me thinking about greetings. For me, there are certain people who I give hand shakes to when I see them. But, then there are those that I do side hugs with, and then those that I give full-frontal (get your mind out of the gutters!) hugs to. You have to be pretty awesome, to get one of those full-frontal hugs from me, though!!! hahaha I've never been to the point where I missed someone so much that when I saw them for the first time after a long leave of absence I jumped into their arms, but I had that experience on my first day back at my church. I wasn't the one jumping, but the one receiving and I definitely couldn't wipe the smile off my face. 


The 5 year old, almost 6 year old son of my student minister at my church asked me before I left if I could send him postcards from all of the places that I visited, and I cannot say no to this kid. He was adopted from South Korea like myself and from the same adoption agency in Tulsa. So, we have a bit of a connection there. Anyways, so throughout the three months I was in Europe I sent him a postcard from every country we visited. When I got back I had one more to give to him that I didn't get a chance to mail, so I was just going to give it to him myself. I didn't get to see him until after church in the common room outside the sanctuary, but as I saw him walking toward me, he saw me, had that incredibly adorable smile on his face and ran toward me yelling, "Caroline!" and jumped into my arms as I picked him up in a big hug! Now tell me you wish you could experience something like that every day! He was super excited about his last postcard and I couldn't be happier to have done that for him. 


So the conversation with the Feltwell Crew about physical touch consisted of the information that physical touch is something that people crave. Wether it be a hug, a pat on the back, hand holding, cuddling, etc. I for one, missed hugs while I was over in England. I'm definitely a hugger. And for the most part, toward the end of the three months I fulfilled my quota of hugs thanks to the Feltwell Crew. There are definitely some great huggers in that group (you know who you are!!!). And if it weren't for them, I might have gone crazy!!!! 


So, in the chaos that is your life, there is always time for hugs. So, if you ever feel like you're in need of a good hug..."Hug Department:  Always Open!"

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Summer and Procrastination

Self control and self determination are the two things that I need to keep myself from becoming a fluffy, broke, jobless, college graduate. OH WAIT!! Too late! I've been in the process of filling out job applications for the past two weeks and have only turned one  in. EEK!! I feel the necessity of job hunting being pushed aside for the love of new music. With the introductions to numerous artist I had not heard of by a member of the Feltwell Crew and the discovery of Pandora.com, I have been listening to and buying music.  


For instance, the first song on my playlist: People Should Smile More by Newton Faulkner. It is definitely a message that more people should take into consideration!!! 


Anyways, this needs procrastination needs to stop and I need to concentrate on more important things like FINDING A JOB!!!! 


However, the summer is just not the summer without leisurely activities such as reading, getting sunburned, hanging out with friends and watching baseball!!! Within the last two  days I have done all three of those!!! Baseball being my favorite thing of the summer! The Redhawks and the Mets! Can't get enough of those guys in tight pants swinging a bat at a tiny little ball. Or in the Redhawks case, baggy white pants. haha


My friend Jill, aka Genevieve, and I had the opportunity to watch a double header against the Tacoma Rainier's, Monday. It was a gorgeous day with great weather, great baseball, great company, and great food!!! GO ROYCE!!!!! 



Royce coming in after hitting his 3-run homer!!!! ATTA BABY, #7!!!!!! 




My goal by the end of this week is to have all seven job applications turned in! We'll see what happens. 


And as I end this post, I feel the need for another quote. If you don't know, I'm a lover of quotes. I have multiple quote books and am always looking for more! So, here is one for you to think about and for me to keep in mind!!!


"Procrastination is opportunity's assassin." - Victor Kiam


Friday, May 15, 2009

Home?

I've been back in the States for 15 days. I can honestly say that it feels weird. I no longer have to trek down to the very end of the hall to get to my bedroom. I no longer have to wear shower shoes. I no longer have to sit on a broken toilet seat. I no longer have to worry about whether or not I can get on the internet. I no longer have to worry about how I'm going to get food for the following week. I no longer have to punch in a code to get into my living area. 


I MISS ALL OF THAT!!!!! Things that I would otherwise find annoying are the little things that made the Feltwell Hilton my "home." I miss coming home to a "hello?!" coming from the dayroom. I miss the faces of my 8 beloved Feltwell Crew Members. I miss hearing about each of their days at school. I miss Wednesday Volleyball. I miss lunch with the Lunch Bunch at the High School. I miss traveling. I miss the random videos and pictures. I miss sitting around the dayroom table listening to music and trying to get on the internet. 


I could go on forever, but I don't think you would enjoy that. lol Luckily, most of the Feltwell Crew is in Oklahoma and I've gotten to see most of them since being back!!! And thank goodness for Skype!!! Our main communication with each other!! 


As I sit here thinking about all the things that I NEED to be doing all I can think about is wishing I was back in England, hanging out with the Feltwell Crew at the Feltwell Hilton. But, life goes on and it's back to the real world. There are job applications that need to be filled out, thank you notes that need to be written, money that needs to be made, pictures that need to be organized, ticket stubs that need a home, a test that needs to be taken, and a life that needs to be lived! 


I had the best three months of my life, and being only 23 years old, I'm sure there are more amazing months to come! 


In the words of a one, Joseph Campbell, "We must be willing to get rid of the life we planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us." I have no idea who this Joseph character is, but he is SPOT ON!!!!