Four months. It has been over four months since I last took the time and emotional energy to write here. Maybe it's because this is my space that I use when I'm in Marfa. And aside from one busy and fun weekend in town, I have not been back to the place I love so much since August. Pathetic, I know. Although, like I have always said, Marfa is not my reality. I have a busy and productive life in Lubbock which extends to Dallas where my family and best friend are. I have a job, am a full time student, am involved in outside organizations, and somehow manage to maintain a decent social life. So, unfortunately, keeping up this blog is pushed away until I have time. Luckily I have plenty of time this trip to Marfa.
Here's why my life is MARFAlous when I am out here. These are also a few of my items on my "Thank God this Holiday season" list:
- I woke up to the sounds of town and birds and freshness. I made a pot of coffee, had some Jesus time on the porch, and was then free to read WHATEVER I wanted. This means I can read for fun instead of guilting myself into reading for school. There have been a few trains pass by the house, lots of cars zooming through town (and by lots I mean lots for a town of 2200), smells of cooking and leaves, and I even heard a horse snort. I don't know where the horse is but I heard it. I have been soaking up the sun on the porch - nights are way cold but the day time brings a delightful warmth and clear sky. My skin has gotten pasty in the last few months - sun time is much needed and very appreciative.
- On Saturday night, I met my cowboys at the hotel for a drink and got to see some of the hotel employees. Man, I miss this place. Even the faces that I don't personally know but recognize make me happy. They are all still here, life still goes on in Marfa just like it goes on for me in other places. After the hotel, we continued on to Padre's for some pool, beer, and good music. Let me tell you - that was one of the funnest nights of my life! There was a Tejano-Mexican band playing that was at first disappointing because we didn't think we knew how to dance to that music. They proved me wrong, however. It's just moving the hips and letting your heart and your partner lead you. I tore up that dance floor with whoever wanted to dance with me! The boys got swarmed by the 60 year old women of the town. And by swarmed I mean Asa got maybe ONE dance with a girl under 60 and that was because I PRIED him away from those crazy drunkies! One of the ladies told me in a slurring voice: It's my 62nd birthday, I just got a divorce, so I'm going to party tonight...I'm drunk! Haha, but let me tell you something - that lady sure didn't let life slow her down. She and I hogged that dance floor with the handsome men of town. We were not going to let anything get in our way of a good time with some good, fun, hip-moving music.
- Yesterday, I took a two-hour nap. I haven't taken a full hour nap in who knows how long! Waking up at 4:00 that afternoon left me somewhat dumbfounded for a moment. This place brings a peace and relaxation to my mind and my soul. I went jogging through town and out on the highway. The view made me laugh a little bit. How sad it is that people do not know the beauty of the country. Some people have never left the metroplex; some people don't want to. How sad that is. They are missing out on the thousands of shades the sky turns as the sun sets in the West. They miss out on the quaint feel of a town where people know each other and say hello in the store, on the street, at the restaurants. They miss out on the normalcy of walking to a friend's house or to the coffee shop. They miss out on the friendlyness that is seen even as two cars pass on the highway and the drivers share a quick wave and nod. This is the life out here - no wonder I never want to leave!
Those are a few of my "aha" moments of late. I am lucky that my parents are paying my tuition - if it were up to me, I would "take a semester off" and never leave this place. The little white house on the hill would not be empty longer than a night or two. My little red car would be a regular sight around town again. I would finally know the grocery store clerk by name and the dairy queen employees would, once again, know my blizzard order as soon as I walk in the store. But alas, I must return to the crazy and wonderful place of Lubbock. It's not so bad afterall.
