This Week in (my) History

Last Thursday, I signed up for a basic DSL package. My decision to go DSL, while largely motivated by my recent infatuation with Lost and desire to catch up on it so I can start watching episodes the week they air, was reinforced by the fact that it took me about an hour and a half to investigate and sign up for this package, even though I was already pretty sure that I wanted it. Ah, 56 Kbps modem...you have served me well. So I'll be getting my shiny new modem soon, and my friend Brittany will come install it, all for the thanks of a grateful nation. (Also, I will buy her dinner or something, because she will have earned it for being my hero of the week.) And after all the signing up, I got a little note saying I would be getting my dialup service for free from now on since dialup is included with the DSL package. This means I'll be spending about $13 less per month than anticipated.

Friday night was the youth group Valentine's banquet at my church. (Yes, they moved the Valentine's banquet to March.) I was not freaking out or anxious. This actually concerned me a bit. I wondered if maybe I had just given up and become apathetic. But it occurred to me that perhaps this is just what patience and peace feel like--praise God for spiritual growth! Not that there weren't moments of frenetic energy. Perhaps understandably, since "frenetic" has connotations of insanity, frenetic energy concerns some people. I got a few "It's okay! It's all gonna work out!" comments. I, however, was "Let's do this" mode, putting the pre-show adrenaline to good use, and generally enjoying myself while bustling about like someone a step away from sanity. I love that rush just before a show in which you feel that anything is possible and that any problems can be fixed as long as you can spot them first. The kids did a great job, and I was proud of them all.

After the banquet, I joined some people who were going bowling. My previous high in a bowling game was 112, a high set over 10 years ago when I was in a homeschool bowling league bowling two games every week for about two years. Friday night I scored a 145. It was like being in an alternate reality. I asked a friend to ask me a math question, but he just laughed, so I'll never know for sure whether or not it was an alternate reality. I would suspect not, though. Star Trek has taught me that in alternate realities, for starters, people usually dress differently and have different facial hair. Such was not the case Friday night.

Saturday I hung out at a bookstore with a friend I haven't talked with for a long time.

Sunday I played Memory with two kids from Somalia whose only English displayed during the game was pretty much "You" (your turn), "Go" (it's your turn), "Susa" (no, don't go yet, it's Suzanne's turn), and "Me?" (is it my turn yet?). I think that was the most relaxed they've been the whole time I've worked with them. And, actually, the most communicative. At one point, the girl looked at me and started speaking before realizing she was speaking Somali and I didn't know it. Even if she couldn't remember the English then, I appreciated that she wanted to tell me something. Of course, at another point, she was shooting me little glances and whispering something to her brother. I never know whether or not to be nervous in those cases. For instance, when they first heard my name and were trying it out on their own tongues, they couldn't stop laughing....

DSL and saving money on it.

A banquet with no breakdowns and a lot of peace and joy.

A best-ever bowling game.

A good long talk with a friend.

Smiles and camaraderie from across a language barrier.

In the last several days I've seen God's blessings showing up all over the place.