What Else Can I Do?

Do you really have to go out of the country?
Could you please go some place less dangerous?

These are the questions my family regularly asks me when we discuss my internship for the fall of 2011. I'm going to be in South or Central America and this terrifies my family. I don't see any other option, for me at least. I want to work with children who need love, who need a chance, and a way out. It's either South or Central America or Africa for me. There's never really been another way. This is where I am going. Part of that is because we have to do an internship in a foreign country and the other part is because I want to. I have always wanted to. And everything I learn I am going to bring back and put it to use with children in this country. I am getting a masters in intercultural studies and most people assume that means other cultures but I feel it transcends that and moves into the subcultures around us. That is where I am going to work, much to the dismay of some. I am going to love and work on healing this earth. Because what else can I do?

In music news:
If you go the Iron and Wine website right now you can download for free (my favorite word with regards to music) 8 acoustic tracks from The Shepherd's Dog album. Do it! They are fantastic!

sometimes i wish i had a secret. something good. not the list of bad secrets i hold close, but a good one. one that makes me excited to keep secret. one that is just for me. i had one and it was nice until it turned into something else. still good. a friendship came out of it. almost humorous really. oh secrets so good and so bad. so many secrets yet to be had.
in other news:
Caroline Smith and The Good Night Sleeps make my life happy and sound very much like spring.

the approach of spring

i hum in my sleep

the melodies of my dreams

blowing through my life

leaves, twigs, and particles of memories

Getting Old

That sweet man in the picture is my grandfather. I love him (and the sweet woman next to him my grandmother). He can't see to ever be well and it's hard, it's hard to watch him getting old. Needless to say I'm really glad I'll be home in 6 days and I'll be able to spend some good time with the two of them. Getting old is not for the weak; I just keep telling myself he's strong enough.

On...

your words are running up my arms

keeping me warm

tickling the inside of my ear

as they ruffle through my hair

blowing strands in front of my eyes

telling me simple truths

truths i desperately need to hear

on beauty

on faith

on the cause of a summer breeze

A Dream

blurred lines on negative prints

of late night laughing sessions

cozy comfort in the front room

cramming people in every corner

singing

filling

abundance

welling up with life

even if only for this one night

captured forever in this joyous occasion

sharing in a moment that is not ours

taking advantage of the joy

the light in our eyes capturing

what the pictures never can

I had a dream about this summer and I liked what I saw.

Weekend with a Friend

Aimee

 kindred spirit, good friend 

lover of adventures and spontaneous days

Seattle for a day

Vintage exploration in the rain

Laughing

Laughing

and more 

Laughing