Rachel says hi. Well, actually she hasn't, but I'm sure if i asked here, she would say hi. 'Cause she is sitting right next to me. Well, she just went to get french flash cards. Okay, she's back.
and so am I. Right now I am sitting on the couch in apt 206, Forbes Craig. I am staying at Rachel's tonight and then going to my new apartment tomorrow.
206 F-C. Familiar? That's right, Rachel is the proud new owner of MY APARTMENT. Not only my apartment, but my exact room, and furniture, and view. I couldn't think of more capable hands.
These hands are also capable of being sneaky. After a 4 hour drive from San Francisco to Reno (early morning) and two flights (reno-denver denver-pgh) I arrived PIT 12:10. I had plans for my friend, Josh, to pick me up. and he did. and with him he had Gabby and Rachel. Sneaky little devil friends who ran hugging and smiling and it was a perfect full circle.
and so that is the end I guess. The summer was amazing. My weekend with David, Nancy, David, Antonia was fantastic. The drive was beautiful. and now I am back in a city that I know and I am in an apartment that once was mine and is very very warm. and with friends i love, though I left others on the west coast. and I didn't cry today. which says a lot. Granted, I had a moment with the davids last night where I got most of it out. But today was good. tomorrow I will buy my books, do some schoolwork, and then see how Tuesday goes. It should be interesting.
I haven't decided what to do with this blog. I think it is finished. Although my memories will transcend this day, I must at some point make an end. I am terrible at goodbyes, and this is not terribly eloquent, but I must now turn my thoughts to Pittsburgh and live here, now. "The journey" was what I sought this summer - the process, the learning, the enjoying of details. So this one short journey has ended. One long in miles and deep in understanding. I might begin a new blog less specifically catered to the Pacfic Northwest adventures of this summer, but for now I will bid you adieu. Thank you for joining me on this adventure and I hope our paths will cross again.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
almost the end
My last night on the west coast.......
wonderful wonderful wonderful but in 5 hours I awake and drive to Reno to finish the journey.
wonderful wonderful wonderful but in 5 hours I awake and drive to Reno to finish the journey.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Aspirations
When I was in 5th grade, I wanted to be a gym teacher.
When I was in 8th grade, I wanted to be a park ranger.
When I was in 9th grade, I wanted to drive down the coast of California via 101.
In Mr. Schott’s AP euro class, when he asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I answered “happy.”
About a week ago, I wanted it to be in the 80s instead of raining.
I just finished an internship with Washington State Parks, where I wore the uniform and learned the environment and drove a “state rig” and talked with campers. Today I finished a two day drive from Seattle-area to Berkeley, CA – along 101. I spent the afternoon on a back deck soaking up the sunshine of an 80s day. I even have new employment; job description: to belittle and berate my friend so he goes to the gym. Close enough.
What do you do when you find that your aspirations all have a little check mark next to them in a cute little square box…maybe you make new ones like, “graduate from college” and “get a real job.” But right now I’m content with, “wait for David and Nancy to get home from work” and “eat trail mix.”
I don’t know what all that foolishness I just wrote was, but I was driving in the car and thinking about my goals…or lack thereof. I answered “happy” to Mr. Schott. I guess I’ll focus on that one…if only I knew what the hell that meant.
Yesterday I bid farewell (for now) to Stacy and Chrissy, and pulled out of Port Orchard in my (dad’s) Honda, loaded down with clothes and records and pillows and a tent and TWO sleeping bags (one much plumper and more pleasant) and a cereal box of granola and a bag of apples. 16 to 5 south. I love Oregon. Wonderful. Beautiful. Although the state park at which I stopped was terribly managd (if managed at all). I continued onto 199 south into CA and 101. Exit 734 (yes…734…) led me to Patrick’s Point State Park, a park I had been advised by a very wonderful A&U team to visit. After making site 5 my little abode for the evening, a walk led me to a rocky cliff on which I watched the sun set. As it disappeared into a misty ribbon floating above this slate blue infinity, I watched the teenage waves crash anxiously onto the rocky realities of coastline, and then slowly recede, only to be picked up again and the undulating water and the foamy sky and the pinks and blues and grays of an evening.
Striking camp after a night of restful sleep (thank you oh squishy bag for sleeping), I packed the Honda to the brim (+) and sat with my guitar for a while. Rising before most of the campground, the serenity of the Before hitting the road, I explored the park, finding my way down a dusty path lined with some familiar friends and some new ones that I have yet to know the name. After a short jaunt through this neighborhood, I emerged onto a rocky coast. I wonder if those waves continued through the night without respite, for they seemed just as powerful this morning. As the sun rose behind me, it streamed through the tree-branch blinds and as it climbed the stairs of morning, it played its new light upon those daunting rocks and crashing waves.
Returning to my car, I finalized (got) directions to the Berkeley-clan and set off. I took 101 most of the way, stopping off several times to visit with the world’s tallest denizens. Yesterday I also stopped on the forest, but today I took a short break from driving and explored. I met a nice couple from Harrisburg, and several giants from California. The combination of sorrel, redwoods, sunlight, and bare feet must have been what I was searching for.
I arrived Berkeley at 3:50, let myself in, showered, relaxed. Began the earlier part of this blog as I enjoyed to hot summer sun and the beautiful back yard gardens. Hugged Nancy and David when the returned from work, and proceeded to give the whirlwind history of my summer in the Pacific Northwest. Wonderful dinner from David. Music. I am so happy to be here with family. All summer I could not imagine being “out here” and not seeing these people who I love and enjoy and so now I am here loving and enjoying them so I’m going to go do that now. Or go to bed.
When I was in 8th grade, I wanted to be a park ranger.
When I was in 9th grade, I wanted to drive down the coast of California via 101.
In Mr. Schott’s AP euro class, when he asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I answered “happy.”
About a week ago, I wanted it to be in the 80s instead of raining.
I just finished an internship with Washington State Parks, where I wore the uniform and learned the environment and drove a “state rig” and talked with campers. Today I finished a two day drive from Seattle-area to Berkeley, CA – along 101. I spent the afternoon on a back deck soaking up the sunshine of an 80s day. I even have new employment; job description: to belittle and berate my friend so he goes to the gym. Close enough.
What do you do when you find that your aspirations all have a little check mark next to them in a cute little square box…maybe you make new ones like, “graduate from college” and “get a real job.” But right now I’m content with, “wait for David and Nancy to get home from work” and “eat trail mix.”
I don’t know what all that foolishness I just wrote was, but I was driving in the car and thinking about my goals…or lack thereof. I answered “happy” to Mr. Schott. I guess I’ll focus on that one…if only I knew what the hell that meant.
Yesterday I bid farewell (for now) to Stacy and Chrissy, and pulled out of Port Orchard in my (dad’s) Honda, loaded down with clothes and records and pillows and a tent and TWO sleeping bags (one much plumper and more pleasant) and a cereal box of granola and a bag of apples. 16 to 5 south. I love Oregon. Wonderful. Beautiful. Although the state park at which I stopped was terribly managd (if managed at all). I continued onto 199 south into CA and 101. Exit 734 (yes…734…) led me to Patrick’s Point State Park, a park I had been advised by a very wonderful A&U team to visit. After making site 5 my little abode for the evening, a walk led me to a rocky cliff on which I watched the sun set. As it disappeared into a misty ribbon floating above this slate blue infinity, I watched the teenage waves crash anxiously onto the rocky realities of coastline, and then slowly recede, only to be picked up again and the undulating water and the foamy sky and the pinks and blues and grays of an evening.
Striking camp after a night of restful sleep (thank you oh squishy bag for sleeping), I packed the Honda to the brim (+) and sat with my guitar for a while. Rising before most of the campground, the serenity of the Before hitting the road, I explored the park, finding my way down a dusty path lined with some familiar friends and some new ones that I have yet to know the name. After a short jaunt through this neighborhood, I emerged onto a rocky coast. I wonder if those waves continued through the night without respite, for they seemed just as powerful this morning. As the sun rose behind me, it streamed through the tree-branch blinds and as it climbed the stairs of morning, it played its new light upon those daunting rocks and crashing waves.
Returning to my car, I finalized (got) directions to the Berkeley-clan and set off. I took 101 most of the way, stopping off several times to visit with the world’s tallest denizens. Yesterday I also stopped on the forest, but today I took a short break from driving and explored. I met a nice couple from Harrisburg, and several giants from California. The combination of sorrel, redwoods, sunlight, and bare feet must have been what I was searching for.
I arrived Berkeley at 3:50, let myself in, showered, relaxed. Began the earlier part of this blog as I enjoyed to hot summer sun and the beautiful back yard gardens. Hugged Nancy and David when the returned from work, and proceeded to give the whirlwind history of my summer in the Pacific Northwest. Wonderful dinner from David. Music. I am so happy to be here with family. All summer I could not imagine being “out here” and not seeing these people who I love and enjoy and so now I am here loving and enjoying them so I’m going to go do that now. Or go to bed.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Packing Procrastination
Behind me sits friend Chrissy, eating cheese wiz and crackers. Jason Mraz "I'm Yours" is playing from my speakers. Chrissy's dogs are begging for cheeze wiz after they broke into their food bags and ate it all. The remnants of my life at Twanoh are scattered on various horizontal surfaces, waiting to be shoved in the Honda tomorrow morning. The trunk is half full - boxes of dishes, a very dense bag of clothes, a crate of records.
Indeed, this is my final evening at Twanoh State Park. Tomorrow morning, Chrissy and I are heading to Stacy's to hang out...we will spend the day going to REI to get a sleeping bag that all of the rangers chipped in for my going-away present (best. gift. ever), take the dogs for a walk, go to some place that serves margaritas, and perhaps foxtrot. Wednesday morning I am leaving Stacy's and heading south. Arrive the Berkeley abode Thursday evening, spend three evenings with wonderful family (!) and then fly out of Reno on the 7th, arriving PIT at 11:59 Sunday night.
So yes, this is my last evening in the Twanoh house. Yesterday I said goodbye to Janet and then refused to take my uniform off for a good 5 minutes......while I cried like a baby. I went out to lunch today with Edd and his wife and said goodbye to the Belfair rangers. Then I met with Janet because I had forgotten to give her my final disc of work (duh). Then to Stacy's and back home and now I am here and going to sleep so that I may rise early, pack, and have one final day in Washington. Holy crap. One, final day in Washington.
My stomach didn't like that very much.
In a couple of days I will be ready to leave. Unfortunately, that is a day or two after I have left, which means by then I will have cried lots more. But homeward bound am I and there are people along the way that I love and there are people in Pittsburgh that I love but today and tomorrow are about the people here that I love.
Indeed, this is my final evening at Twanoh State Park. Tomorrow morning, Chrissy and I are heading to Stacy's to hang out...we will spend the day going to REI to get a sleeping bag that all of the rangers chipped in for my going-away present (best. gift. ever), take the dogs for a walk, go to some place that serves margaritas, and perhaps foxtrot. Wednesday morning I am leaving Stacy's and heading south. Arrive the Berkeley abode Thursday evening, spend three evenings with wonderful family (!) and then fly out of Reno on the 7th, arriving PIT at 11:59 Sunday night.
So yes, this is my last evening in the Twanoh house. Yesterday I said goodbye to Janet and then refused to take my uniform off for a good 5 minutes......while I cried like a baby. I went out to lunch today with Edd and his wife and said goodbye to the Belfair rangers. Then I met with Janet because I had forgotten to give her my final disc of work (duh). Then to Stacy's and back home and now I am here and going to sleep so that I may rise early, pack, and have one final day in Washington. Holy crap. One, final day in Washington.
My stomach didn't like that very much.
In a couple of days I will be ready to leave. Unfortunately, that is a day or two after I have left, which means by then I will have cried lots more. But homeward bound am I and there are people along the way that I love and there are people in Pittsburgh that I love but today and tomorrow are about the people here that I love.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Green Leaves, Blue Moon
This evening I gave my final evening program and said my last goodbyes to Penrose Point State Park. We had a nice gathering in the afternoon – as the end of summer draws near, I head back to the ‘burgh, the hosts head back to Arkansas (I think), and the aides finish up and head on to whatever is next in their lives. And a Twanoh birdie (Larry) told Janet that my favorite cake was angel food, and so she actually got angel food cake and prepared fresh blackberries and strawberries with it! Yum.
We went through my programs and did paperwork. Then back to the host site and served for the last time as an interpretive intern. I realized in my introduction that I slipped up and said “interpreter” instead of “interpretive intern” …I don’t know if that means anything profound or if I was just distracted, but I like to think that I have earned my keep. At the end of the program I played a couple of songs and then let this sweet 8 year old girl try the guitar. She played a little, and then I built chords while she played, and we wrote a song called “green leaves.” After she finished playing, immediately she wanted a guitar for Christmas. And then I said goodnight and she came up and gave me a big hug….and looking up at me, said “this is the greatest day of my life.”
And so I said goodbye to that final child, and I said goodbye to Dan and the park aides. Janet and I will say our final goodbyes tomorrow when she comes over to do an evaluation. Those of you who know me might be shocked when I say I only cried a little…but I have a feeling its going to hit me tomorrow.
I have reflected a ridiculous amount as I have written letters to all of the rangers here; on top of that I had a great conversation with Dan, and so now I am not quite reflective enough to close this blog. I have several more days in the pacific northwest, and I hope on one of them I can find the words to explain just what this internship has meant to me, how I have grown, how excited and scared I am to return to Pittsburgh, and how bitter sweet it is saying goodbye to people that have become more than supervisors and coworkers, but friends, and to an environment with which I have become so familier and to which I have become so close. I have climbed these trees and eaten this berries and clams and leaves. And in a field void of unnatural light I have looked at the stars and I have seen the bioluminescent sparkle on the caps of waves and I have climbed to the tops of mountains and stood at the top scared I might fall on the way down and stood at the top scared I might fall at the bottom, and I have led campfire sing a longs and I have shared this wonderful place with loved ones from home and I have shared with children this amazing thing we call “nature.” And now I go to a city where I hope I may find these joys or different joys.
And perhaps I have found some of the words…I will try harder tomorrow.
We went through my programs and did paperwork. Then back to the host site and served for the last time as an interpretive intern. I realized in my introduction that I slipped up and said “interpreter” instead of “interpretive intern” …I don’t know if that means anything profound or if I was just distracted, but I like to think that I have earned my keep. At the end of the program I played a couple of songs and then let this sweet 8 year old girl try the guitar. She played a little, and then I built chords while she played, and we wrote a song called “green leaves.” After she finished playing, immediately she wanted a guitar for Christmas. And then I said goodnight and she came up and gave me a big hug….and looking up at me, said “this is the greatest day of my life.”
And so I said goodbye to that final child, and I said goodbye to Dan and the park aides. Janet and I will say our final goodbyes tomorrow when she comes over to do an evaluation. Those of you who know me might be shocked when I say I only cried a little…but I have a feeling its going to hit me tomorrow.
I have reflected a ridiculous amount as I have written letters to all of the rangers here; on top of that I had a great conversation with Dan, and so now I am not quite reflective enough to close this blog. I have several more days in the pacific northwest, and I hope on one of them I can find the words to explain just what this internship has meant to me, how I have grown, how excited and scared I am to return to Pittsburgh, and how bitter sweet it is saying goodbye to people that have become more than supervisors and coworkers, but friends, and to an environment with which I have become so familier and to which I have become so close. I have climbed these trees and eaten this berries and clams and leaves. And in a field void of unnatural light I have looked at the stars and I have seen the bioluminescent sparkle on the caps of waves and I have climbed to the tops of mountains and stood at the top scared I might fall on the way down and stood at the top scared I might fall at the bottom, and I have led campfire sing a longs and I have shared this wonderful place with loved ones from home and I have shared with children this amazing thing we call “nature.” And now I go to a city where I hope I may find these joys or different joys.
And perhaps I have found some of the words…I will try harder tomorrow.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Happy Birthday Mom!
Tuesday I worked at Penrose for the afternoon/evening, reviewing my outlines and "final disc" with Dan and Matt. Wednesday I worked in the morning, and then joined Dan, Aaron, and Jack for some mountain adventuring, pizza, and movie time. From the top, we could see Seattle lit up in a temporary moment without clouds. Grey Jays close by and a sweet climb on some rocks on the way down. Dan and I had a sweet banter of music...a combination of old movie tunes, musicals, nursery rhymes, and rock music - some days I am clearly a Halloran. Today I worked a long day at home, went for a walk on the trails, and spent the evening making my thank you cards. I'm at the list-making point where I write down everything I need to do before heading out on Tuesday/Wednesday but don't actually do any of the things I need to.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Adventures
Yesterday Stacy and I took a neat hike through the woods. Last night Chrissy and I surprised Stacy (with Jason's help) for a "bachelorette" party which consisted of a bottle of wine, pizza, and the closing ceremony to the olympics. The perfect gathering. This morning Stacy and I took the ferry to Seattle, had lunch, and spent the early afternoon in the hair salon as she got her hair dyed and we talked wedding hair-dos. I had a lot of fun and said goodbye to the city.
This evening I sort of freaked out, but had some wonderful people from the home area calm me :0). I am excited to go back, but I'm in that awkward time where it is too early to pack but I'm getting anxious.
This evening I sort of freaked out, but had some wonderful people from the home area calm me :0). I am excited to go back, but I'm in that awkward time where it is too early to pack but I'm getting anxious.
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