People all over the world (quite literally) have been mourning the loss of a wonderful young woman since last Wednesday. I hardly got to know her, but she was the wife of a dear friend of Mike's. I had always taken it for granted that sometime soon we'd make it to Boston to visit her and her husband, and I would finally have the chance to talk to her outside the realm of some official event like a graduation or wedding. Instead, we went to Boston on Sunday for her wake and funeral.
A few people asked me today about the funeral, and I couldn't help but smile and tell them how beautiful it was, which just sums up exactly who this woman Sonia was. I am not exaggerating because of any sentimentality: I have never witnessed such an incredible showing of love and togetherness, and such a huge impact coming from the life of one human being. The church was overflowing, and someone estimated that there were about 600 people in attendance, including 4 bishops and probably 50 clergymen. I learned too late that Sonia started an Orthodox preschool at the age of 21, something I would have loved to talk to her about. It has been in the back of my mind for several years now that someday it would be wonderful to start a parochial school, but I always thought "I will get my Masters first" or "no one would take me seriously until I am older". I was so humbled to find out that Sonia accomplished this feat years ago. And in so many other ways, the story of her life inspired me, and I believe will continue to inspire me. As heartbreaking as it was for the throngs of people to say goodbye to her, I don't think that one person could have left that service without thinking about how they could try to live up to the kind of person that Sonia was, or without the comfort of knowing that she is now enjoying something more beautiful than any of us can imagine.
There are many indications that Sonia knew that her time here would soon be up, and I, as well as many others, were bowled over by the implications of this- I keep thinking that she just really had an ear for God's voice, and probably understood things in a way that many of us only wish we could. Originally I had begun this post with my own complaining and petty cares, and it was nice, and appropriate, to go back and cut all of it out without a second thought. Sonia's life really has affected me in a profound way, and probably will for a long time to come. Talk about gaining some perspective.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
are you there, blog? it's me, erin
The last week or so has caused me to realize how grateful I am that my husband is NOT a high-powered workaholic executive. Sure, the convertible might be nice, but it turns out that having a husband who’s around is nicer. I am sure of this by my experience of the opposite.
This week is finals week for Mike- finals week of his first semester in a doctoral program. I’m not sure I remember what he looks like. No, I am exaggerating completely- but the long hours of staring at a computer screen/giant Greek lexicon (nerd) until he nearly goes blind have been a great reminder to me of how great it is to come home and hang out with him, and talk about our day, make some food together, whatever. I am so glad that this finals week time is not the norm. Of course, the semester of comps is going to be a different story. Possibly a much worse story. I am taking applications for Husband Substitute, a position that will need to be filled in the spring of 2009 (and by that I mean applications from girl friends, so stop judging me).
What is most frustrating is that I can’t do very much to help Mike. Back when we were both in college, at least I could study along with him, and commiseration is a help, right? Plus, we were studying basically the same subjects and working on many of the same projects. But now, I don’t know how much help I can be when it comes to a doctoral paper on the kingship of Saul and how it relates to ancient Judaism versus modern Christianity- at least beyond the realm of some paltry grammar edits. Now, I feel that all I can do is offer to make him some food, or put his laundry away. (Although this may be something that many dutiful wives already do for their husbands, we have a different setup- all the clean laundry gets dumped on the bed, and then we dig out our own and put it away. I would venture that this is a good system, since I can earn some brownie points just by putting away his laundry when he’s busy.)
It’s definitely a tough week for him, and I am trying to keep busy as well, just to promote the whole “aura” of productivity. But I will be none too pleased to celebrate with him when it’s done- at least until the end of April, when round two begins.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
carry on my wayward son
It's been a long time since I've considered myself a fan of South Park, but I happened to catch last week's episode, and was so glad that I did. I laughed so hard that I was crying. Really. Tears coming out of my eyes. For anyone who has played Guitar Hero, or has lived in Colorado, this is hilarious. But even for those who have done neither, Thad Jarvis is still incredibly funny.
Check it out...go to 7:53 if you just want to see Thad-
Thad Jarvis is my hero.
Check it out...go to 7:53 if you just want to see Thad-
Thad Jarvis is my hero.
Monday, November 05, 2007
hello again!
Wow, it has been a fragillion years since I wrote anything on my blog. I guess the main reason is that I have taken a lesson from other bloggers, and refrained from blogging about the thing that I would be most likely to blog about, which is also the thing that is the most dangerous thing to blog about. And when you have negative things to say in a blog about this thing, usually it's better to just keep your dang mouth shut. And that's that. Hope you know what I'm talking about. And no, it's not my marriage. My marriage is real good.
Beyond the negative comments that I will not be making, all is relatively well. We are definitely getting into our routine, and getting used to being New Yorkers again (or at least living among the New Yorkers). I think our social lives have totally benefited from being out here- it feels like we've already made (or reconnected with) a lot more friends than we made in our two years in Wyoming- although we do miss the Wyoming group a whole lot. And how fun is it to get together with friends to watch the Rockies get pummeled from a pub in the Bronx, or try authentic kielbasa at a Bohemian beer garden, or smoke sheesha in Little Egypt? Well, I will tell you, it is very fun.
One thing that I looked forward to so much was a public transportation commute, which affords built-in reading time. So now I can think back on the handful of books that I've been able to read in the last couple of months and provide some recommendations. Number one among all of them: What is the What, by Dave Eggers. I picked up this book almost in disappointment, as I was looking for Eggers' more popular book, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius. But What is the What is one of the most beautiful pieces of literature I have ever laid eyes upon- I recommend it wholeheartedly. It actually made me cry! Well, that's usually not difficult, but these were a different kind of tears. Not like the "I've come to know this character so well and now I feel emotionally attached when I find out that they have a terminal disease" tears, but the "society, or the human experience in general, is just so beautiful and disgusting all at the same time" tears. Please, read this book. I'm now reading AHWOSG (as it is lovingly referred to at the top of each page), and so far it is good also. I can't even think of what else I've read lately. That's just how good What is the What is.
My mood has changed entirely with the long-awaited entrance of fall. It seems like it took forever here, and I was very grumpy because of the heat and humidity, but all has since become right in the world. I think I have seasonal affective disorder, only in an opposite way than what one might usually think. (Is it an accident that the acronym for that is S.A.D.?)
The ways in which people happen upon my blog are more than a little amusing to me. Here are some phrases that people have searched for on Google that have brought them to my site: "super cool wow", "facebook statuses", "lahm bajine", "victor garber".
It is my dream to start a knitting blog someday. The google phrases that would bring people to it would probably be a little more run-of-the-mill, although I think I'd like to design a "Victor Garber" scarf, just in case.
Beyond the negative comments that I will not be making, all is relatively well. We are definitely getting into our routine, and getting used to being New Yorkers again (or at least living among the New Yorkers). I think our social lives have totally benefited from being out here- it feels like we've already made (or reconnected with) a lot more friends than we made in our two years in Wyoming- although we do miss the Wyoming group a whole lot. And how fun is it to get together with friends to watch the Rockies get pummeled from a pub in the Bronx, or try authentic kielbasa at a Bohemian beer garden, or smoke sheesha in Little Egypt? Well, I will tell you, it is very fun.
One thing that I looked forward to so much was a public transportation commute, which affords built-in reading time. So now I can think back on the handful of books that I've been able to read in the last couple of months and provide some recommendations. Number one among all of them: What is the What, by Dave Eggers. I picked up this book almost in disappointment, as I was looking for Eggers' more popular book, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius. But What is the What is one of the most beautiful pieces of literature I have ever laid eyes upon- I recommend it wholeheartedly. It actually made me cry! Well, that's usually not difficult, but these were a different kind of tears. Not like the "I've come to know this character so well and now I feel emotionally attached when I find out that they have a terminal disease" tears, but the "society, or the human experience in general, is just so beautiful and disgusting all at the same time" tears. Please, read this book. I'm now reading AHWOSG (as it is lovingly referred to at the top of each page), and so far it is good also. I can't even think of what else I've read lately. That's just how good What is the What is.
My mood has changed entirely with the long-awaited entrance of fall. It seems like it took forever here, and I was very grumpy because of the heat and humidity, but all has since become right in the world. I think I have seasonal affective disorder, only in an opposite way than what one might usually think. (Is it an accident that the acronym for that is S.A.D.?)
The ways in which people happen upon my blog are more than a little amusing to me. Here are some phrases that people have searched for on Google that have brought them to my site: "super cool wow", "facebook statuses", "lahm bajine", "victor garber".
It is my dream to start a knitting blog someday. The google phrases that would bring people to it would probably be a little more run-of-the-mill, although I think I'd like to design a "Victor Garber" scarf, just in case.
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
looking for my home
There have been so many blogworthy tidbits in my life recently, but not having the chance to get them down in an actual blog in a reasonable amount of time has caused me to forget most of them. I only know that they were there at one time.
The coming of the fall season has put me in a generally joyful mood- Mike and I have decided that October is our favorite month, for the following reasons: 1)the weather begins to cool off, and sometimes there is rain, and leaves are falling; and 2) the holidays are getting closer and closer, but not so close that they will be gone too soon. This second reason is especially exciting when there is the anticipation of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Rockefeller tree, the shop windows full of holiday cheer, the Empire State Building standing tall amidst a light sprinkling of snowflakes.
Can you tell that I'm feeling wistful this evening?
There are certain things about this new life that have been bigger adjustments than others. I'm really trying to stay optimistic and feel grateful for the opportunities we've been given, but I'm having a hard time settling into these next four or five years that will be relatively unchanging, at least in the basic ways. Every time someone hears that we've moved from Laramie, Wyoming to Westchester, New York, their eyes get wide, and they say "woooow". But really, they have no idea. It's not just the climate and population density that are different, it's the attitude and the entire way of life. I knew that New York could change a person, but sometimes it still scares me how quickly I settled into the selfishness and lack of concern for anyone around me.
I'm not exactly saying I miss Laramie. I've just got two extremes going on here. Hopefully some day I will adjust, and then my blogs can be about some other subject.
The coming of the fall season has put me in a generally joyful mood- Mike and I have decided that October is our favorite month, for the following reasons: 1)the weather begins to cool off, and sometimes there is rain, and leaves are falling; and 2) the holidays are getting closer and closer, but not so close that they will be gone too soon. This second reason is especially exciting when there is the anticipation of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Rockefeller tree, the shop windows full of holiday cheer, the Empire State Building standing tall amidst a light sprinkling of snowflakes.
Can you tell that I'm feeling wistful this evening?
There are certain things about this new life that have been bigger adjustments than others. I'm really trying to stay optimistic and feel grateful for the opportunities we've been given, but I'm having a hard time settling into these next four or five years that will be relatively unchanging, at least in the basic ways. Every time someone hears that we've moved from Laramie, Wyoming to Westchester, New York, their eyes get wide, and they say "woooow". But really, they have no idea. It's not just the climate and population density that are different, it's the attitude and the entire way of life. I knew that New York could change a person, but sometimes it still scares me how quickly I settled into the selfishness and lack of concern for anyone around me.
I'm not exactly saying I miss Laramie. I've just got two extremes going on here. Hopefully some day I will adjust, and then my blogs can be about some other subject.
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