Creating a New Life

When I was in college, my Sophomore year, my friend Diane wanted to check out the New Life Church. Always keen on researching religion, I agreed to accompany her. This was a mistake that I could not make it for long. As soon as the music turned on, the audiences' hands reached up, and everyone started singing for Jesus, I knew that I could not stay. I told Diane that I had to go and we both left. I never went back to the New Life Church, but Diane did...many times. Diane found her place in the church, but for me my searching was far from over. It's still not finished, but I think I'm getting closer.

I was sitting at a table at the Packwood Quilt Show, sewing a little quilt gear bag with some extra scraps, when my assistant supervisor walked by. "Looks like you've created a whole new life for yourself here." I laughed a little, but he remained serious saying, "No, you really have." It made me think a bit. I guess I've been so consumed by the death of my Grandma and wanting so desperately to hate it all, that I never stopped to realize that maybe I like here. Maybe this is close to my stopping point. I love walking and running and biking up and down the mysterious and ominously beautiful forest roads. I love quilting and dancing and hanging out with the local middle aged women. I love waking up early and going to sleep early. The roads are few, the materialism far away, and perhaps my troubles are too. This world is certainly not devoid of its problems, but I don't really mind my life here. I have my coffee shop. I have my greenhouse. I have my life.