Homecoming...

"strange how certain the journey
time unfolds the petals for our eyes to see
strange how this journey's hurting
in ways we accept as part of fate's decree

so we just hold on fast
acknowledge the past
as lessons exquisitely crafted
painstakingly drafted
to carve us as instruments
that play the music of life..."
~Vienna Teng, "Eric's Song"

"How do you pick up the threads of an old life? How do you go on, when in your heart you begin to understand there is no going back?"~Frodo Baggins

Home. It's funny how family never really seems to change (though little brothers do tend to get bigger), remaining the great constant in my universe; almost four months absent bleeds away like a short trip when I see them at the airport, and we pick up right where we left off.
My parents and I went to Johanna's baptism on Sunday (the next day). I don't think she was expecting me, and standing waist high in water she gave me a smile when our eyes met. Her testimony was elegant and honest simplicity. Wouldn't have missed it for the world.
We also met up with Emily (Ward) there, and afterward she, Johanna and I, joined by Elizabeth McDaniels and Matt Elmore (!one of the last people I expected to see, and one of the best surprises of the weekend) wandered around downtown Rockford for the evening. A good day.
My first day back on campus yesterday, running errands and seeing many, many friends. Also a quick rehearsal for Willows. Cornerstone family: come next Tuesday at 7pm; amongst other things, possibly the last chance you will have to see me act.

In my own way, I know that Frodo was right. You can never really "go home" again, not to the home you left behind. Things change, times move on, and the cliche is true: you can never step in the same river twice. If nothing else, we have changed. And how can we express it? How do you answer "How was England?" We have seen the dreaming spires, slept in the Bodleian, walked the parks, and toasted or cursed the great men that came before. We have cooked, studied, played, walked, slept, lived alongside one another every day for fourteen weeks, brothers and sisters in arms, to the end. How do you explain an experience like that? It's like trying to describe the color "blue."

Once more into the breach, dear friends, once more...

First one in, last one out...

Today was a day of adjustment, as our worn and wearied minds attempted to grasp the fact that our seminar papers were finished; one more small paper due next week, and then we are ABE (all but exams). As Scott put it, the stress and business of schoolwork tends to last longer than the reality, like ghost pain.
Phil and I had made plans (later joined by a few others) to cook breakfast for our brothers and sisters in arms in celebration, so this morning I rose early while the house were asleep (you know, like the Folgers commercial) to begin. Pancakes, eggs, sausage, home fries, and various other culinary delights--including my Dad's famous biscuits, made from a secret family recipe steeped in arcane, dark arts from the depths of rural Georgia--were enjoyed by all. I would do it every day really, if it were not logistically and chronologically prohibitive.
Tonight Kate was introduced to the brilliance of Woody Allen's Annie Hall; if you have not seen this movie, then you...really...ought to. See it. (Sorry, I got nothing) I can remember my dad raving about it for a while, but I was skeptical, thinking it would be difficult to handle two hours of Woody Allen without the annoyance driving me to try to slit my wrists with that little plastic cover that holds the batteries in the remote control. It is, however, an amazing film.
Tomorrow, a trip to London and the Imperial War Museum. (John, I am going to try to sneak out some ordinance for you, or at least a piece of a Spitfire or something)
This Saturday is Revenge of the Open Mike Night. I will be doing a monologue (two actually) from Shakespeare's Henry V, specifically the St. Crispian's Day speech, and "Once more into the breach, dear friends." Of course, I only picked them out and started memorizing this evening, so...*nervous laugh*...right.
Speaking of which, to my Cornerstone family, I will also be in Willows when I get back, so you will have at least one more chance to see me prance about and "act."

Grace be with you all,
Brian

Do you know how many trees...

"How could I have been so blind to not see you
The more that I look the more I find
You've led me to the truth
That I am nothing if I'm without you
You opened my eyes and helped me to find
How could I have been so blind"
~"Blind" by Third Day

Papers, papers, papers. My away message pretty much sums it up:
"Working on my Theology Seminar Paper, as per my Unholy Blood Oath, going toe-to-toe with Luther, Calvin and the Reformed tradition on one side, and Richard Swinburne on the other, fighting a two front war on the concept of Original Sin."

"I just want to be the champion of misunderstood Russian Novelists."~Kate, as we work on papers.

"Go down Brian
Way down to west palm beach
Tell old Scott-o
Give me hot nachos."
~Scott and Nat singing Negro spirituals as we work on papers. They are both two of the whitest men of my acquaintance.