The dinner party

 

On Sunday night the NAFD crew gathered to celebrate the end of another semester and another season of our lives.

Some of us are staying here, some traveling to other countries, others are moving across the country, and another is biking across the country. Out of our darling group, we have a wide variety of different passions and loves and it is always exciting to see.

I love these ones more than most anything on earth.

“If I knew that today would be the last time I’d see you, I would hug you tight and pray the Lord be the keeper of your soul. If I knew that this would be the last time you pass through this door, I’d embrace you, kiss you, and call you back for one more. If I knew that this would be the last time I would hear your voice, I’d take hold of each word to be able to hear it over and over again. If I knew this is the last time I see you, I’d tell you I love you, and would not just assume foolishly you know it already.”- Gabriel Garcia Marquez

*Some photos by the ever lovely and talented Ora*

Hello spring // welcome madness

I tend to forget that with the spring weather and excitement comes a good deal of madness too. Lately, I just have to keep telling myself this is all a part of the journey. The worry and concerns have been overwhelming, but at least the  fun times have seemed much brighter than they normally do in light of everything.

As I mentioned in the last post, a lot in my life has seemed to be in a state of transition, but good things are happening and I’m excited to share new photos and memories soon. For now, enjoy the madness.

“Follow your inner moonlight; don’t hide the madness.”- Allen Ginsberg

A reminder:

“A musician must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must write, if he is to be ultimately at peace with himself. What a man can be, he must be” – Abraham Maslow

Be what you can be today. Today officially feels like spring and from what I can tell, everyone around here is pretty excited by it.

What life looks like these days

Life lately has been a hilarious mix of funny events, wild emotions, and dramatic weather. I’ve lived my weekends out of bags and my week in the a variety of places too. I’ve thought a good deal about the big, scary future and feel that I really have no idea what is in store. I know with confidence, it’ll be something I never dreamed of doing and in a place I haven’t ever considered.And I’m excited. I’m ready for a challenge and ready to take on just about anything right now.

Maybe its all inspired by the new warm weather and the snow and ice slowly melting away, or maybe its just the constant reminder Spring is near. . . and with it comes a whole new set of possibilities.

“Everybody is identical in their secret unspoken belief that way deep down they are different from everyone else.” – David Foster Wallace

More photos -> here.

Under the same sun

[Photos: Spring in Chapel Hill//Grace Farson]

This Near-Daughter is heading home. . .

The moment I get off work tonight, I’ll be in my car –> Davidson. I am so ready to be home.

These happy days have been filled with all that is good and simple and wild. Last night, Alyssa and I drove to Norwood, NC for dinner with Ma-Maw and Da-Dan and TT. I promised A an adventure, but little could have prepared us for the drive back to Carrboro. We spent an additional hour and a half, laughing, screaming, and even crying after getting lost and having to follow the most absurd detour ever. . . We made it home eventually. Victorious.

A and my long [hilly] run was followed by lots of coffee and a big avocado and breakfast burrito. . . plus. . . henna with Katie and A, more food, and avoiding doing the work I really should be doing. . .

“Think you’re escaping and run into yourself. Longest way round is the shortest way home.” – James Joyce

[Photos: My favorite barn//Grace Farson]

Relentless Usurpation of Temporal Linearity

Back to it all.

First day of classes = something like this. . .

Woke up at 7:47 for my 8 a.m. // made it there + only 5 mins late // pjs = leggins + velvet shirt worn all day // new classes and faces all around// hugs // promises to see each other in the new semester// classes added//classes dropped//plans// people darting in and out of buildings trying to find classes// goodbyes//new connections made . . .

I had been continuing to do the same thing
while expecting different results.

On most days the children learned how
to do something. Time passed around us

as something approaching a figure eight
might move in order to let all else move

or be moved by our large numbers of feelings
exponentially on high alert once we let them register.

It passed us around. It passed around us like a river
around a boulder.

Music consisted of light & light came on time.
It was impossible for us not to anthropomorphize everything.

And yes, watching ice skaters, the kind called figure skaters,
the ones who aren’t doing anything other than tracking again &

again some figure of infinity marked out on ice for them,
this never failed to quiet us down & take us some place else.

– Dara Wier, 2012

[Photos: Holga, early spring, last year//Grace Farson]