Troublesome Transition Turned Triumphant Tale

So this week has been an adventure. We left early, shortly after five, on Friday morning after about 4 hours of sleep. My parents met me at the Lund house to pack the last few bits of laundry and the cooler into our two jam-packed cars before heading across town to pick up Courtney and head out on I-80 for Chicago. We did stop briefly at the Sapp Bros. truck stop for a big breakfast and about a gallon of coffee each. By Des Moines we stopped for gas. Funny story, my car decided to lock itself while we were getting gas after Courtney got out and we were locked out of my car until I was able to finagle a wire hanger to unlock the driver's side door. Crisis averted... or so we thought. About ten minutes later, as my parents followed us on the interstate, my mother called to ask about the steam I hadn't noticed flowing from under the right side of the hood of the car. I immediately glanced at the gauges on my dash indicating that my engine was over heating. In my ignorance I only slowed down(I didn't stop), attempting to exit the interstate as quickly as possible. We got to a gas station in Pleasant Hill, East Des Moines, and discovered a "Performance Plus" auto repair across the street. The engine had cooled a bit so I managed to get it to the mechanic there. He indicated in a matter of minutes that the head gasket was done for--the car was totaled. Now I knew it was cracked and the car had obvious problems, but I hadn't really anticipated this so soon. The four of us prayed, rearranged things so we could all fit in the van, and promptly headed back to central Des Moines in search of car dealerships and a new car! Over the course of the next eight hours, we would endure seemingly countless dealerships and salesmen. They weren't all bad, a few were remarkably ridiculous, but I... we were all... getting to the point where we didn't know if we could handle another over-zealous salesmen, dangling his bait in hopes that we might bite. Facing an amazingly expensive year, we had a bit of a tight budget to work with--our options were limited.
I think it was at what must have been our seventh dealership when things began to take a turn for the better. We were helped by a young salesman, Brandon, just out of college at Iowa State. He informed us of a car just dropped off that day, a 1995 Toyota Avalon. It was black, nearly flawless, spacious, tan leather interior, 91K miles. Almost too good to be true. My dad and I took it for a test drive. It handled amazingly. It felt almost like new! It turns out an old lady who had bought it at that very dealership new in 1995, had just traded it in that morning for a new Corolla. The service dept. hadn't even inspected it yet. I was getting excited to say the least. We gave the Service guys an hour to check it over and we came back to find out the damage. Incredibly, nothing super serious was found wrong. A few minor things would need to attended to but we needed to drive it away that day--we were still trying to get to Chicago remember. God be praised, we were able to negotiate a great deal, exactly within our budget!! As I said, eight hours later, I drove away in my new car. The girls had rushed back to empty my old Acura--it had served me well for nearly six years, now with almost 200K miles, it was ready to be done. We quickly transferred the rest of our things into the new car and made it to Winfield (where I'm now living, west of Chicago) by 11:30 or so Friday night. We got everything moved in right away and were able to enjoy the rest of the weekend as I got settled into my new home for the next year!
Today was the first day of orientation. It took me 2-and-1/2 hours to get to campus, about exactly two to get back home. It's a bit daunting but manageable. Things will get better as I get my classes figured out this week and get a routine established. All in all, I'm doing very well. It's great to be living with my aunt, uncle, and two little cousins (3 & 2). Thank you all for your prayers!! This will prove to be a challenging year I'm sure, but I'm so excited to see what I learn and where it takes me!!

p.s. I'll post pictures when I get a chance!

Occupational Endings

My last day of work was Friday. It's amazing the things that you don't expect to miss--the mundane, day-to-day details like the particular things that only I remembered about the regular customers. Bob always gets his ones broken into stacks of 20. Larry always gets balances. Ray always liked my blue and white, striped tie, he liked to ask random math and trivia questions too. Shirley always comes in on Wednesday mornings. Josh, 'lunch guy', always comes through the drive-through, eating his lunch, he calls me weird nick-names (slappy, shooter, etc.). Deb calls in her change orders every morning, first thing, and she never tells me who's calling when I answer the phone, just "hey." Ken is usually the first customer in the drive-through every morning, he only ever has deposits, he doesn't get a balance, and he always gets a dog bone for his dog Fred who's never with him. Anyway, you get the idea. These sort of things are what I'm going to miss. Not to mention the people I worked with. My last day, Larry bought me a cup of coffee, Deb bought my five power ball tickets (i didn't win), and our personal banker bought me a scarf, a pound of coffee, and everyone signed a card that plays the song "hit the road jack" when you open it. I was really touched, nearly emotional. It was weird to say goodbye and walk out the door. Fortunately, i have much to look forward to. I move to "the Windy City" (Chicago) on Friday!

Running thoughts

It seems my greatest opportunities to think during the day happen while I run and today was no exception. I ran past what must have been a 6th or 7th-grade boys soccer practice and decided, for the first time, that I would like a be a soccer coach someday. Nothing serious, mind you, just for a YMCA league or something. It was funny to me though to think about because I had never considered it before. Previously, I had always been thinking about playing--never coaching. For whatever reason I consider this thought to be revolutionary in my maturity and development.

Furthermore... I have a confession or two. I'm almost hesitant to type this actually. Due to the influence of my childhood--yes I'm blaming my parents--there are a number of things in my life, my interests and abilities, that remain forever affected. First and perhaps most obviously: automobile know-how. In part due to my father (who would in fact admit it) I possess remarkably limited knowledge of cars. I can replace fluids and check levels, etc.--but if anything goes wrong I'm clueless and I'm forced to rely on the local car repair shop for just about the minutest of mishaps. Second, football. I enjoy football. I enjoy playing football. I enjoy watching football. I've never really been the obsessive, know-all-the-players, know-all-the-stats, remember-all-the-games/plays/seasons type of fan. I've kind of found myself intimidated, or worse, put off by conversations with people that are. But this year, for perhaps the first time, I'm legitimately excited for the rapidly approaching college football season! Maybe it's the influence of college roommates, or maybe I've just been worn down into submission with a football crazed society and a football crazed state. But for whatever reason, healthy or not, I am! ...Unfortunately,... now that I'm moving to Chicago in month, this will be my first fall season away from Nebraska, my friends and family with whom I would otherwise now be able to enjoy it all! Dangit! Oh well, perhaps it will become a means to acquiring other friendships... hmmm.

Review: "Heart of Darkness"

I wanted to throw out a recommendation while I can--Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness." Heather (one of my housemates and long-time friend from high school) bought a book for me for my birthday--which i already had, haha. So i exchanged it for "Heart of Darkness." I love classics and this was one I heard was good but had never before taken the opportunity to read. I've now only read the first 80 pages or so--but I love it. Conrad is an amazing writer, eloquent and profound. What amazes me still is that English was not his first language. Anyway, if you get the chance, take it. Perhaps I'll review it a bit more once I've finished the book. Stay posted :).

Life Lately...

So lately my life has been a busy mix of work, Courtney's family, and preparation for Chicago. Work's work. My last day is a month from today and I'm ready for it. Don't get me wrong, I love the people--some of whom I've seen five days a week for 14-and-a-half months now--and it will be an abrupt change to be suddenly done and gone I'm sure. But I was not meant to be a banker. To be honest I'm craving with increasing measure the opportunity to experience a greater purpose in the vocation i pursue on a day-to-day basis.

Two weekends ago Courtney and I traveled to Yankton to her grandma 'Honey's' cabin along with her mother, aunt, uncle and his wife, and most of their kids. We had such a good time. I could probably write an entire blog-entry to two about experiencing the fascinatingly different dynamics of a family other than my own after spending a weekend in the same cabin with all 13-or-so of them. Enlightening stuff, let me tell you. Then last weekend we had Courtney's niece's first birthday party--which is apparently a HUGE deal. Am I the only one not aware of the monumental event that a child's first birthday is? Help me out here. Family traveled from Minnesota and multiple friends attended with their kids for the afternoon-long event. First there was lunch and every one of the thirty-or-so individuals had to get their time with Julia (the birthday girl), craziness ensues as other kids run about, we pause for singing 'happy birthday' and the child dives into her own little cake before everyone enjoys their cake and ice cream. We watch slide show of the baby's first year, mill about again before the hour-or-so saga that is opening presents from everyone. I don't remember the last time I had an event such as that centered around me--probably because I was one year old, eh? Anyway, after about 3-and-a-half hours I finally had to escape for isolation and a short nap. Afterwards, we were off to visit some of Courtney's mom's relatives at a restaurant called Surfside just north of Omaha on the east side along the river. It was a great place, they served fried chicken or fried catfish... that was it. But it was GOOD! you eat along the river and people boat by and, apparently in the name of tradition, moon you and all the other 'surfsiders' as we enjoy our beer and fried fish. Good times!

As to Chicago. I feel the time is quickly approaching. I've been working on loans and budget preparations, the details of my living situation with my uncle and his family (yay!), scheduling the orientation events and whatnot for the advent of the new school year--it's all very exciting and a bit overwhelming. But as I said, I feel more and more ready for it. It's time. I'm just praying to keep perspective. I really desire to see what I gain from this next year used in a (perhaps) unique way, commingled with Truth to develop real insights and answers to international conflict and resolutions. If I believe the Bible to be true and that Truth to be pervasive, it must apply to all aspects of life. The problem is that for me to live and believe in such things, means that i'm living my different rules than the world. I would like to see those rules merge in a way that makes sense to the world through academic endeavors. This is my hope. You can pray with me over that. I'll keep you posted as this all becomes more clear in time. Thanks for reading!

The simple joys in reunion

It has been far too long since my last post. Courtney's been back from Australia for nearly three weeks now and I've found my free time devoted largely to her--as it should be. It's been so good to have her back. It's interesting how relationships mature when forced to cope with extended periods of distance. Five months is quite a long time to be separated, from my perspective, and many unforeseen challenges presented themselves in the process. But the beauty of it is what is learned as you work through the challenges. As you honestly communicate, make joint, intentional efforts to find resolutions, and be both wholly committed to first find your peace, comfort, and joy in Christ, incredible growth and even a stronger relationship can be found at the other end of the distance. Not that it hasn't been a bit of an adjustment to be together again after so long an absence. It's remarkable the elemental things you don't always consciously recognize--the facial expressions, the touch of a hand, just the comfort of a felt presence, even the significance of operating in the same time zone, interacting at the same time of day--these important things you almost unknowingly learn to do without. The ache of their absence is felt though not entirely understood. It is almost as though the weight of the substance and joy they bring isn't comprehended till they are gone, and then finally, when they are all but forgotten, they are suddenly there again--subtly changed a bit with the effects, influences, and experiences of time--but remarkably the same. It's all a bit overwhelming, but overwhelmingly good. Be encouraged those of you who are separated for a time.

Friday Night Highlights

It's Friday. Finally. There's something about arriving at Friday night after a long week of work. Since joining the working world, brief though my experience may be, I have discovered a tendency I never before noticed in the stressful-yet-sporadic and largely free college years. It is the tendency, nay the necessity, of rest. The exhaustive drudgery that repetitive work can sometimes be, though it may not initially appear physically or mentally taxing, is remarkable--leaving one all but incapable of involved activity at the end of a long work week. I won't even mention the ridiculous emotional effects of dealing with people in customer service. Courtney (who's finally back on Monday by the by) will testify, she discovered this with me and unfortunately received the effects of this as I first encountered it. Granted, a person's emotional response to this exhaustion is largely a choice, but I think it was Bing Crosby who said in "White Christmas" as he's trying to help Dean Jagger's character cope with retirement, "There's something to be said for leisure." Admittedly, it's not as bad as it was during the first few months after I started. Maybe I've learned to deal with it. Maybe I've just adjusted. Maybe I've reached a point of comfortability with working full time. Maybe I know I won't have to much longer and there's a light at the end of this short tunnel, haha. But i still find myself eager to get off work on Friday, get in a quick work out, eat, shower, and finally relax in limited company, awaiting a full night's sleep, without having to anticipate waking to an alarm at 5:30 and repeating the daily grind while operating on too much coffee, dealing with frustrated and difficult people who often have no regard for your humanity, and trying not to watch the clock as it slowly ticks off each second of your eight-hour work day. Haha, OK, that's a little melodramatic, but I couldn't resist. All this to say, It's here, and I am, so I will. Thank God for weekends.