Ode to the Grape (iii)

I always come back to Ecclesiastes 3:11, it's mind-blowingly true...

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end."

In 4 years, everything happened at the right time. I've always wondered why it took some things so long to occur and why some things just happened, however good or bad it may be.

I realized that in this "waiting period", God is preparing our hearts to accept what is to be pushed in front of us. This has happened one time too many and the instances that have occurred for me could fill volumes. As of lately, I've realized again and again how truly perfect His timing is in delivering stuff.

He knows. I am grateful that these "deliveries" have and still continue to fine-tune my patience, knowing and learning how to wait upon the Lord.

He provides too. Always. I keep quoting Matthew 6:25-34 for good reason.

CCF, UVA, but most importantly, that Good Shepherd have been instrumental in shaping this guy in realizing this.

Thanks.

Ode to the Grape (ii)

To quote Charles Dickens; it was the best of times, it was the worst of times, etc. etc.

If life is a literary piece of work, the time at UVA was a play/opera in 4 acts. God wrote the lines/libretto and each scene was played out well by a very huge cast.

As I sit here typing away, I remember/watch this work (His art/work) unfold...

Historical. Suspensful. Comedic. Tragic. Horrific. Moving.

Laughing. Singing. Eating. (LOTS of eating) Crying. Hating. Loving. Studying. Reading. (TOO much unnecessary reading) Living.

Ironic. Climactic. Anticlimactic. FULL of foreshadowing. Repetitive.

Too short. Too long. Too fast. Too slow. Just right. Just plain wrong. Just enough.

The music was good. The music was bad. His lines were too long. Her lines were perfect. He wrote it just right.

Bravissimo!

Roses for the whole cast. Shout out to one too many people who made this piece as memorable it is. But mad props, accolade, and all due credit to the Great Writer/Producer/Director. Deo gratias.

Encore?

Ode to the Grape

4 years at UVA was both long enough and short enough a time to make a smorgasbord of memories and has offered a plethora of things to appreciate. Here we go...

Beautiful architecture and scenery all around. Magnolias galore in the spring. Vividly verdant in the summer. Leaves changing in the fall. Beaucoup snow in the winter.

Constant construction going around. Never ending mazes of detours, sounds of the jack hammer, and other beautiful sounds of buildings going up.

UVA Chapel carillon tolling every hour and ringing every 3pm, 5pm, and 7pm.

Parking is horrendous. Teaching a dog how to play piano would be easier than to find parking on Grounds. I shake my fist at this still.

Too many memories in Newcomb. Shout out to Ms. Kathy...Forever a sweetheart! O-Hill's ridonkolous stir-fry lines. Runk's funky art, I still think they're funky portraits of Einstein, Mr. T, Leonard Nimoy, and Patrick Stewart. Honorable mention to Miss Lady with the white bat wings and branch for a spine.

The Crossroads, West Range Cafe, and The Castle...top 3 to grab food on Grounds.

Rouss Reading Room, McGregor Room, Brown Library Reading Room, and Newcomb Lounge...top places for study/work places.

Club Clemons. Enough said.

Spending countless hours in the creepy yet fascinating stacks of Alderman.

Trolley and bus rides. Seeing and hearing from the most interesting folks of UVA and Cville.

Finding God in the most unexpected and randomest of places. In Dell Pond, in an email in the wee hours of the morning, in some food, at a bus stop, on the way to the bathroom, etc. etc.

Who could forget...the 3 F's of Finals' Season in the libraries...food from it being eaten in the library, feet from folks taking off their shoes, and funk from everything known and unknown...the 3 P's of Spring...papers, pollen, and prospectives.

I could go on...and I will...

pre-graduation rhapsody

Finished a novel.

Finishing an opera.

Joked with the president of UVA and ate with ZL and her peoples at his house.

Had just enough soul food from Mel's to get the itis. (B-E-A-UTIFUL sweet potato pie!)

Was in and out of that class party in 10 minutes. (that music was whack, but they had cookies!)

Rode through Cville one more time.

Had another food party at UHeights with the crew. (even MORE cookies!)

Graduation in less than 9 hours...I'll be waiting.

a different normalcy

Disclaimer: stream of consciousness writing=random leaps of logic=apologies beforehand...

Part I: I've noticed a long time ago and am now taking time to acknowledge, life at home continues regularly yet always is new and strange when I return.

I'm currently home for the moment. I'm also preparing (read: freakin' out) for graduation. Gotta head back to UVA tomorrow to take care of some ridonkolously last minute admin stuff. (UVA is relentless about this double major business)

As I unloaded my car Saturday evening of the tons of living stuff I've collected over the years, I noticed a stretch limo pulling into my neighborhood. Who got money like this??? People in dresses and white tuxes pile out. How could I forget? Prom Season.

My thoughts...As these folks complete a milestone in thier young lives, I was reminded of this impending milestone I must finish. Sunday, that funky hat and judge gown, and that coveted piece of paper are waiting for me...

Part 2: Since I've been in Ptown for a few days, I've had to "reorient" myself. Not that I've ever lost it. Maybe.

On the way visiting a bunch of high school friends, I drove down the route I usually took when I drove to school. It was surreal. It had been years since I'd gone down those roads and when I did that day, I felt like I was going to high school again. Ahh, so long ago!

AC is well into being preggo, due in July? This will be her 2nd?!? But Congrats to her for being momma again! BB, as always, has got their hustle going on. Keep doing your thing, BB. All them other folkses are looking for jobs, workin, or still doing that school business. And IT goes on...

Part 3: Indulging on the ever present nerd in me, I made a trip to the public library. Ptown has seriously gotten more gentrified (read: bougyer...I'm claiming this word) over the years. The library had some new technology that amazed and worried me. I went to this library for years and I wondered has it gotten "too big" for me? I remember the old location and how low tech it used to be, now it's doing bigger and better things for the community. Props to the Churchland Branch.

CCR's "Proud Mary" comes to mind. The song itself is of no relevance to this post but that big wheel is still turning and I'm still rolling on this river... Lord, I'm prayin'.

home stretchin' (iii)

this is somewhat overdue...

2:41pm. Friday, May 7th, 2010. 3 birds with 1 stone. Finished my last final exam, presentation, and paper.

Kickin' back and coastin' for the time being. College is DONE!

Momma

I just listened to Schubert's rendition of "Ave Maria" again and can't help but wonder...

The Virgin Mary carried the baby Jesus in her womb for however long she was pregnant with Him. What was going through her head as she carried Him? How did she feel? Did Jesus kick while He was in there?

One can only imagine what Mary was like as the earthly mother to Jesus. What did she feed Him? How did she clothe Him? How did she love Him?

To all the women whom folks claim as momma...Happy Mother's Day!

home stretchin' (ii)

4:38pm. Tuesday, May 4th, 2010. Schooooool's out fooorever! Except for when I go to grad school, but until then...Woooooo!!!

Now about this paper I still have to write and finals I need to study for...

home stretchin'

It is May?!? QUESTION MARK???

I still can't believe it. Just a little over 3 hours ago it was April and now it's May. Life is real but it got EVEN MORE REAL when I realized it was May. As I sit here typing this and taking a momentary break from paper writing, I had to address this issue because it really hit me. Hard.

Only 22 days til graduation?!? Am I really finished? 4 years of struggle, joy, and growth over?

Too late and too much to reminisce and write about now. I'm certain there will be plenty of posts later on these things...