Sunday, November 30, 2008

Thanksgiving Feast

I must say, my first Thanksgiving away from Mount Carmel, PA, was quite successful. I was able to time perfectly a feast fit for a king, which the four of us greatly enjoyed. Kelly was most impressed, I think, by my ability to time everything correctly and keep dishes clean throughout the day, making clean up a cinch.


I am pretty proud of myself. I know it's simple for some people to pull off the coordination of a meal like this, but this was my first true attempt. Turkey, potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole, corn, rolls, and homemade gravy... all cooked and served to perfection... followed by brownies, pumpkin roll and apple pie. Everything (minus the rolls) was made from scratch, and that makes it even more enjoyable. It really couldn't have been any better.

This experience also reaffirmed how much I love being in the kitchen and how I seriously need to consider and explore this option for my future.

Time for some leftovers!

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Best Day of the Year

In a few hours, my brother and friends will arrive in Memphis for what is shaping up to be one excellent weekend. Thanksgiving is by far the best day of the entire year. It's absolutely enjoyable - an excuse to eat like the meal will be your last and sit around watching football, drinking, and hanging out.

This year is uniquely special for me for two reasons. First, this is the first Thanksgiving that I won't be in PA, and second, this is the first Thanksgiving dinner that I am responsible for pulling off. While I am saddened to not be in the coal region drinking like an idiot until 4am, I am just as excited about hanging out in Memphis with brother and friends and making my own Thanksgiving meal. It's definitely the largest meal I've taken on at this point in my life and I am excited for the challenge.

I have prepared desserts already - first time for an apple pie - and I am quite pleased with myself. I have a good feeling that tomorrow's kitchen adventures will prove successful as well. I'm also feeling that this can be the start of a three-week bender of heavy eating, drinking, and laughing as my time in Memphis comes to a close. I can't think of a better time to kick this off than with Thanksgiving!

Love, peace and turkey grease!

Monday, November 24, 2008

Improve your social life...

If you're looking to improve your social life, tell people you are moving in a month.

Instantly, everyone wants a piece of you.

Dinner, drinks, a movie, a broadway show, more dinner, more drinks... seriously, the fun doesn't end. Every night lately, there has been a hundred options of who to see and where to go and what to do. It's incredible.

Where was this for the past three years of my life?!?

In all seriousness, it's actually been a great few weeks. Living life to the fullest. Reliving old memories with some great people. Making a few more memories with those same great people. I feel pretty fortunate to have these experiences. I'm savoring every moment, especially the surprising ones - the unexpected, purely blissful moments.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Quote of the day...

"We must be willing to let go of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us." - E. M. Forester

Sunday, November 16, 2008

The First Goodbye

As my time in Memphis dwindles to a few short remaining weeks, I find myself walking a tightrope of emotions. Some days I experience extreme jubilation about the excitement the future holds. Some days I experience extreme sadness about leaving a place with so many people who mean a great deal to me. It's an endless balance between real, deep emotions.

On Friday, I said my first goodbye to a friend in Memphis. He too has left the city and is searching for his next step. Like me, he's experiencing the same emotional pulls - the longing for family in a familiar place versus leaving a place where people touched his life in a short period of time - the balance between hello to the future and goodbye to the present.

Goodbyes come in many forms.

A casual hand shake, a simple thank you, a short hug... these aren't often too emotional because the relationship was probably casual.

But the gut-wrenching hug, the tears, the emotions so deep you can't even find the words to capture all you want to say... these are the tough goodbyes because the person means so much to you or has touched your life in a special way.

The hard reality for me is that I'll be saying goodbye to a great deal of people over the next few weeks, and some goodbyes will be more difficult than others. I feel truly blessed by the number of people who have been part of my life in Memphis. Whether I've known people for a few years or even just a few months, each person has taught me something or reminded me of something important in my life, and I am extremely thankful for those opportunities.

Yes, the goodbyes will be difficult, but they are also a testament to the life I lived here, one touched by many unique individuals and enjoyable moments. I am humbled to be able to walk away with this realization, that hopefully I have touched so many lives in Memphis in the same ways so many others have touched my life. It truly is a blessing.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

"When you come to a fork in the road..."

Some people describe the "fork in the road" as "being at a crossroads". When I think of "crossroads" I think of a four-stop intersection, a pause to consider the following:
1. Do I continue straight along the same path?
2. Do I turn left and consider this new path?
3. Do I turn right and consider yet an alternative path?
4. Do I just sit idle, not doing anything.

For quite some time, I was sitting idle in my life, going through the motions of an endless cycle of work and not work, more work and less not work. I had my proverbial car in park and sat around waiting for things to change and waiting for things to happen. The reality is not much changes on its own and things don't just happen because you hope they might or want them to. I realized the only way for change to come and for things to happen was for me to put my foot to the pedal, push the gas, and set myself back in motion.

I pushed the pedal and decided to turn.

Goodbye, current job. Goodbye, Memphis. Goodbye, financial security, health care, stability.

Hello.... ?????

The bottom line is that sometimes I find myself uncertain about the paths in my life. The path I have been on over the past few years does have rewarding and worthwhile moments. But there's something and (possibly somethings) missing. The only way to find those other things is to change paths and take a new course. Is it scary? Sometimes. Is it overwhelming? Definitely. Is it worth it? Absolutely.

I may be uncertain about the paths of my future, but I am certain I made the best decision for myself at this moment in my life. I'm near ready to step off the path in Memphis, and onto a temporary path back home in PA. I'm ready for turns. I'm ready to push the gas and see where life takes me.

And if nothing else, I can always fall back on the fork in the road, the place where feeling uncertain and scared mixes with feeling excited and exhilarated.

The roads are open, and that means the possibilities are endless.