A Tribute to the English Language

Last week, I worked in the gift shop some, helping with inventory and restocking. We have a variety of books available throughout the store and a particular room for art books, books on writing, etc. While doing my inventory checks, I stumbled upon this book, "For the Love of Letters" by Samara O'Shea. My new favorite book! It discusses the need to continue the art of letter writing, the personal nature a hand written note takes, the loss of the English language when we resort to only communicating via technology. She goes through the various types of letters - love, erotica, goodbyes, break ups, thank yous, apology letters - and, by using letters from history, shares tips with the reader on how to write good letters. As a huge fan of writing to people, this book immediately caught my eye. I read through it on breaks until I got paid and now have my very own copy!

I just want to share my favorite passage with you. This passage is in the introduction and, as soon as I read it, I knew this book was for me. Just soak it up, experience the sensuality of her words, and consider the truth of what she says...

My concern is, though, that what we gain in speed we lose in language - and, just a reminder, we are the heirs of a resplendent language. English is curvaceous, complex, and beautiful. Fluent and fierce. She is the lover you will always adore but will never fully know because there's too much to know. She is a true seductress - devious and overt, offering endless possibilities. With her I could tell you that you look gorgeous or that you look exquisite or that my body lost its breath when I happened upon you. When we encounter her placed in uncommon and alluring order we find inspiration and purpose. We find connection with ideas, with emotions, with people we know, with people we will never know, and with time periods that we must learn from and understand... Let's set time aside and allow our lovely language to bask in a place that has already proven its staying power: on paper. We must spread her our so that she can dazzle and breathe. Like all living things, if she does not breathe she will die.

- For the Love of Letters, Samara O'Shea pp. x-xi

Thanks to God for the peace He brings.

Wow, I have yet again gone a long while with no update. I wish I could excuse it with "oh I am soo busy" but really, my life seems to have taken on a very regular pace. I normally work from about 9-4ish then come home for a facebook check, workout with Hannah, make supper, watch our nightly movie and head to bed around 10ish. I kid you not, if our nightly movie is not finished bye 10:00 we, mostly Hannah though, seem to kind of freak out. Who knows why - I guess we are all just creatures of habit. So, it's not that I am particularly BUSY but once I find a routine, I rarely break it.

However, today my boss, Vicki, broke my routine for me. She's having me come in at 5 to "help" in the restaurant. Basically, I will more likely be in the way but will be able to put on my internship report (for the semester credit at school...) that I helped in the restaurant and now have experience there. I will probably bus a few tables, maybe take an order or two...who really knows! Haha, either way, I like the bartender working tonight so it will be another adventure in the life of Abby.

This past weekend was a very delightful one. Each weekend thus far has been marked by a specific event: 1st weekend was the party at Mitch's with him, Clay, and their crowd; 2nd weekend Sam and Sarah came out; this weekend was my favorite. On Saturday, I drove the 2.5 hours to El Paso to 1) CASH MY PAYCHECK!!! 2) go spend some of that hard earned money at a target and 3) MEET UP WITH RACHEL!!! For those of you unaware, Rachel is my best friend. We have known each other through Campmeeting for many years but did not realize the potential of besties until we were Freshman roommates at Texas Tech. Many factors from that year helped us establish a very unique roommate relationship. I hurt for those who have horror stories of their freshman roommates. The worst thing mine ever did was encourage me to workout more than I wanted to or spill hot candle wax on my bedspread. And, those few complaints I had at the time are mere laughing matters now. Anyways, life has not let us live together again but I fully intend on having her as my roommate once again as a senior in college - we started off with a bang, might as well end it that way!

Needless to say, getting to meet up with Rachel after over a month of her absence in my life was a very special thing. Well worth the drive, we did some shopping, LOTS of talking (there are some things that just CANT be said in a phone conversation), plenty of eating, and some laughing tagged along as well. I wish I could portray in this post just how much she means to me but, well, words fail sometimes. So, instead, just know that getting to hang out with her was perfectly wonderful but only increased the desire to return to my life in Lubbock so we can be together all the time haha!

One thing that has been on my mind lately is just how great our God and our Faith is. I work with a proclaimed agnostic and another who refuses the gospel. The agnostic, let's call him Joe, believes in nothing after death. That this life is all we have. The other, "Ellen", believes in something after death but it's not Heaven. They were both raised among Catholics and Protestants so the word of God is no unknown book to them. They both are aware of the religion's beliefs and find it ridiculous, for the most part."Joe" seems to be unhappy in general. He recently told me that there's nothing to live for but morals and ethics because this life is all we have. Wow. These conversations seem to come up quite often. Both are very aware of what I believe and, though they try to not be offensive, do not refrain from discussing the ridiculousness of religion or Christian beliefs. This is fine with me - everyone has a right to believe what they choose to believe. Yet, it hurts my heart to see all this taking place. I see "Joe" and his unhappiness, his lack of hope or reason to live. I see how he deals with situations and just hurt for him. Having something and Someone to live for makes such the difference in life. I might not live my faith as completely as I should - I definitely mess up enough. But, it's the knowledge and peace, that only God can provide, that having faith in Jesus brings, that makes the difference. I know that, no matter how bad or depressing things get in the world, no matter how much destruction occurs, there is something so much better to come. I have more than my few years here on earth, whether I live to be 21 or 101. I believe that even just the knowing of an eternity spent with a loving God, and not just a decaying body in the ground, makes a person's demeanor and view of things change. Yes, it is true that much of Heaven is unknown. Yet, we know so much more about that destiny than what happens if there's just "something" after death. And, it's much more comforting to picture a golden paved pathway leading me to my Jesus than to see my decaying body slowly disintegrate under ground.

I have also seen how lonely a life without Salvation must be. When you have no expectation of a better life after the one on earth, it makes sense to fill life with anything and everything that brings a small amount of happiness. If this life is all we have to experience, if there is nothing better to come, how lonely it must be to experience your short lifetime alone. No wonder so many people shack up and stay in unhealthy, unsatisfying relationships or jobs. No wonder so much time is spent experiencing life's pleasures and staying in relationships that, in reality, are not healthy at all. I would do anything to spend the few years of my life with someone and not alone. But, fortunately for me, I know that whether alone or with those I love or even those I am no fan of, I will be okay. As long as my life is lived to the fullest and I experience God's glory, his gifts to us, and use my talents for His Glory, things will be okay in the end. I love that not only is He in control of my life but He is a friend, a comfort when there's no one else around. I will get to be with him for eternity, not just the time I get here on earth.

Please keep in your prayers those who do not know the peace and hope that comes from salvation, from a God who interacts with his people. A God who CARES. My favorite verse, Isaiah 40:28-31, claims that "those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength." How exhausting and lonely it must be to not have Hope, to not have the peace of something better to come even when things here get worse and worse.

Well, I must go work on my book! I really am writing one...keep your eyes out for it in the next few years haha!

take me out to the ball game...

Did you know that they have a minor league baseball team out here? Well, SURE DO! Alpine (about 25 miles from Marfa and a notch up the scale of town sizes) is home to the Big Bend Cowboys - a team that is back after a couple decades' hiatus. There is a BEAUTIFUL stadium in Alpine that overlooks the West Texas mountains and makes for a lovely sight during the evening games. Hannah and I went to town on Friday to catch a few innings and were there right when sunset occurred. We raced to the car so that we could drive part of the way home into the sunset - purples, pinks, oranges. There's nothing like an evening out west. 

Along with "watching baseball" and experiencing God's glorious sunset, we managed to focus mainly on the actual baseball players. These guys are from all over - some from as far north as New York, as far south as Latin America, and everywhere between. After seeing only the men who come in and out of the hotel and Paul, the guy I work with, it was nice to set my eyes on a young, fresh crowd...especially the Latinos :) For only five bucks, we had the best seats in town: backless benches separated only by a chain link fence from the team's dug out. In other words, prime viewing of the Cowboys. My man is number 25 and Hannah's is 5. How sad is it that I could immediately tell which one she would take a liking to? Before she even sat down with me (a phone call hindered her entrance into baseball glory), I could tell who she would prefer and, of course, who I preferred. Though we didn't stay the entire game (our early bedtime we are now accustomed to called our names), we plan on seeing those boys again. There's a street dance festival in Alpine this Friday so perhaps we will see them there? Hopefully they will wear their jerseys so we are able to distinguish them!

Saturday was a delightfully productive day. After both of us got our own workouts in for the day, we decided to do some chores around the house. We had friends (Sam and Sarah) coming in for the night so that inspired us to...well, be very married like I guess. Hannah took the man's role and rearranged patio furniture, mowed the lawn, and cut the watermelon for supper. I swept out the house, baked a cake, and made some yummy Texas Caviar for our staple - Fritos. It was such a successful morning that we both needed a laying out break - we set up camp next to our purple kiddie pool for refreshing ourselves and lounged about on the old cots we used to sleep on. Our Sita would be so proud to know that we reused those cots after so many years! After so much activity and the sun draining us of what was left, we had just enough energy to shower and take much needed naps. I LOVE afternoon naps. It was pretty warm out too so I quite literally passed out. When I woke up, it took a good 10 minutes to clear my head and make sense of reality. I think I nap better then when I sleep at night!

Enough with the nap...Sam and Sarah (both of the Means family but 2nd cousins...Hannah and Sarah are bff and Sam is, well, he's Sam!) came over to cook supper and just hang out. I went down to the hotel to return "Giant" (everyone must see it. The cast - Rock Hudson, James Dean, Elizabeth Taylor - all stayed at the Hotel while they filmed) and ran into a few friends. Between chatting with them on the patio and chatting with my friends at the front desk, my little walk to drop the movie off turned into quite an event! I love going places in town and knowing people. That's something I have always waited for in this town and it's finally working out for me! Back at the house, Sam had made some mouth-watering brisket, yummy homemade biscuits, and later we had my chocolate cake. If the food is that great, you KNOW the night was a good one :) And that it was. I love getting to sit around and chat with old friends. You know it's good when you don't have to do too much catching up - things just fall right back into place. That's how it is with my west Texas folks...and I love it.

On Sunday morning, Hannah and I decided it was time to try out a church in town. We used to always go to the Baptist church when the whole "Camp Marfa" gang was in town. We walked the 2 blocks, more than doubled the congregation, and always, without a doubt, had to perform. Yes, that's right - perform. Normally this consisted of Hannah and I playing a piano duet, Naomi playing a piano song, and Zac/Kate doing a sweet little VBS song for all to see. They were the babies, and still are, of the crowd and everyone loved seeing them - Zac with his white blond curls and Kate doting on him. They were a precious pair. I distinctly remember the year they sang "The Gospel Fuzzies" - a musical version of the gospel bracelets only you have a glove with the colored fuzzies on each finger. The Baptists of Marfa sure seemed to enjoy that one! Well, Hannah and I opted to bypass the "oh, you're Mary Helm's family?!" moments and try a new church. I ran past a quaint rock church the other day and noticed that their service was not until 10am - perfect time for church. So, that's where we went and believe me, I will be back every Sunday I am out here! The two of us were the youngest by about 40 years and seemed to be quite the novelty. Everyone greeted us, they had us introduce ourselves during the sermon, and a few even said to call them if we needed anything. If only I could remember their names I would TOTALLY take them up on that offer. It was the Presbyterian church (a shame to my Baptist and Methodist grandmothers, I'm sure) so new to me. But I just loved the small congregation, the familial atmosphere, and the knowledge that all was well within those walls. It was a surprising delight, not just a dreary church service to check off of my list of things to do. I will be going back on Sunday with my heart ready and my voice ready to bellow out the beloved hymns of years past.

Here begins my third week in the town I love so much. It's amazing to think that I have actually gotten to spend this much consecutive time out here! Except for a desire to shop at Target and see a few of my peeps/family, I have absolutely no need or want to leave. I am enjoying each and every morning at work, walk to the Hotel, lazy evening, and sunset from the porch. I can only hope that those who read this are enjoying their summer as much as I am. Even if you are stuck in the city or in a cubicle job, just remember that days are limited and we must embrace every moment with those we love. Enjoy your week of summer bliss. I will share a hot dog at the next baseball game in memory of all those following my life. Love and hugs and kisses!

P.S. this was what I found on my kitchen floor one night!

here begins another week :)

Though nothing terribly exciting happened, this was a delightful weekend. My aunt Joni, Kate, and Hannah were here until Saturday when AJoni and Kate headed home to the big city and hannah stayed for a few weeks out here. I love my family. Being with them is lovely even when we bug each other. I didnt appreciate my family (extended and immediate) until a few years ago and missed out on a lot of fun I'm sure. Unfortunately, I was one of those teenage girls whose friends are the center of her world and life revolves around ME. The good thing now is that having had that attitude makes me better appreciate those friends who are still around despite college and moving away but also my family. So, hear it loud and clear: I LOVE MY FAMILY :)

Let's see - this weekend included much laziness on my part (and Hannah's too!). Friday, I worked at the hotel, a job I am loving more and more each day. It really is a dream internship. I got to help put wedding favors in the guests' rooms for this weekend's wedding. I trimmed the geraniums, was treated to a yummy pizza lunch, had chat time with my lovely coworkers, Paul and Jeanne. Basically, I am very happy. For those of you who worried that I would be (silly yall!), go ahead and know that I am good to go. Friday evening was followed with me helping Lisa at the Austin Street Café. She did the rehearsal dinner for the wedding party there and I was the chosen helper. Now, just in case my hotel job isn't good enough, God let me stumble in the path of Lisa and Jack. We chat and laugh, taste the food that is being served, have non-alcoholic beers, eat any leftovers for supper, and I get paid to have all this fun! Lisa is the best teacher too. She took me out into her very expansive garden to teach me a bit about different herbs like lemon verbana, various mints, and basil. I am now bound and determined to start up an herb garden - cross your fingers there. I feel I just need a bit of experience, some failed plants, and then some successes to truly have a green thumb. We shall see...

Well, as if Friday night wasn't enough fun helping out Lisa and Jack, I got home and AJoni and I decided that I looked too cute to NOT go out to my friend's ranch for their party weekend. I gathered up the courage to head on out (I do NOT like to do things like that without my wingman...) and ended up having a very good time. I got to see my old friend, Clay, and visit with some new people. I was the "score keeper" of the ping pong games, although I doubt I did any good seeing how I don't know how to play or what counts as a score. All in all, Friday was a good day/night. And whoever thought I'd be BORED out here?!

The rest of the weekend was delightful but lazy as they get. Hannah and I allowed ourselves to get sucked into the thrills of Dawson's Creek - the 6th season. It is my FAVORITE series by far - I love the dramatic nature and am in love with Pacey Whitter. Anyways, we did manage to go on a walk or two, make dinner both nights, and get a few chores done in between episodes. A few productive things we did? We made ourselves lovely dinner lovely suppers both nights: Saturday was yummy pasta and a summery salad topped with a cocktail of capri-sun - very big girl drink and Sunday was Pasta Primavera with grilled chicken. Here's a picture of our first supper together and then one of Hannah's expertise in mowing the lawn:

Along with laundry, visiting with Clay in town, making supper and cookies, and (of course) finished the season of Dawson's Creek, we have CLEARLY been two very busy girls. It's almost like we need a weekend to rest from all the excitement...Nah, we need the week to start so we can get back to work. I like having a job to get up for in the morning, to pick an outfit for, and to get paid for. Makes a girl feel kinda grown up!

This week on the agenda: I will be starting to see the housekeeping side of a hotel. Today I work the evening shift so I can see what evening housekeeping is like as well as the front desk's evening duties - mostly checking people in and preparing the books for the next morning. I will be cleaning some toilets I'm sure as no good manager can tell their employees to do something that they have never had to do. I might be co-helping with a mini event at the hotel as well. Nothing fancy just another thing to add to my experience :) There is a band coming to town on Saturday and some home baseball games this week in Alpine - between that, working, and porch time I am sure to be a busy girl! Keep posted for more on my life.

a slow paced life is a happy life for me.

I was informed today by a friend that there had been no update in about 5 days - that is just unacceptable! It isn't a lack of time that's for sure. More of a lack of things to share. I have been waiting to post until I had some great story or moment to put into words here and, well, today I got one. I have been working now for 4 days in the morning shift at the hotel. It is a slow week for us - I guess not many wanted to experience the culture of a west Texas summer - so I have learned much but there isnt enough happening to keep us busy. I have become friends with Jeanne and Paul, the other two front desk clerks with me, and look forward to chatting with them more. I have gotten some yummy food provided by the cook's experiments and get there at 7 am to help open up which means I fully experience a morning here :) I really do love my job. And I get paid to hang out in a hotel, meet customers and hear about their trips, and share my love and knowledge of the great West! It was a match made in Heaven.

Anyways, so yesterday an older man come into the hotel to pick something up. He was a flirty man which means easy to talk to and nice enough. Naturally, I chatted with him while the others looked for his item to be picked up. We talked about how "busy" our job is - how terribly difficult it is to stand at a counter, leaning against it, and chat until a customer comes by. "Yes, yes, it is really hard work" we discussed, very sarcastic of course. I asked if he had been to Padre's, the new bar/hang out around here, and he sure enough hadn't but thought it sounded interesting. Anyways, we said our goodbyes and that was that...until this afternoon. I got a phone call on the Paisano's phone...very odd, they asked for Abby. Jeanne brought me the phone and looked kinda confused but said that the call was for me. Well, I answered and asked who was speaking. He said "This is Dougie. Are you leaning on the counter pretending not to be bored again?" WEll, naturally I thought that someone was watching me and trying to trick me! So, I confusedly looked around the hotel for someone on a phone because I WAS leaning on the counter and pretending to not be bored! How strange! I kind of laughed and said "Yes, who is this again? Do I know you?" Well, he refreshed my memory that we had chatted the day before about leaning on the counter and such...he then proceeds to ask me if I wanted to go out to Padres the next night with him! I said "oh, Friday night? Like tomorrow?" only struggling to think of some answer to get me out of a DATE at a BAR with an old man! "yeah", he said, "would you like to go try it out with me tomorrow night?" Thank goodness I am working tomorrow night! So I politely told him that I have a catering gig and wouldn't be done until late...He said, "well another time then" and that was that... WEIRD! Haha, Jeanne felt so terrible after she realized what that conversation was. Especially for leaving me alone with him for a brief moment the day before! If only he was about 40 years younger - guys these days should be more forward and open to asking girls out! But yuck...I am a no go there ha!

Well, aside from that, my life is pretty slow and stable right now. I love it that way. Hannah, Aunt Joni, and Kate came in last night - Hannah for June to teach art classes and Aunt Joni and Kate just until Saturday. I don't have to sleep alone anymore!

weekend roundup.

Well, here we are at the end of a lovely Sunday afternoon and a delightful weekend. Sunday's are both a blessing and a curse, as we all know: we rest from a fun weekend but also to ready ourselves for another week. As much of a bummer as it is that we must buck up and go back to work or school the next morning, Sunday's also mean that we are given yet another week of life and experiences. Lucky us for making it this far!

This weekend was 

going to be my weekend to rest up, enjoy having NOTHING to do, and let myself get absolutely bored with having nothing to do so that by Monday morning, I would be ready to start working. Well, so much for boring myself out! Yesterday I had a wonderful opportunity to help my friend Lisa in her cafe, the Austin Street Café. She had a private brunch and let me help serve waffles, toast bagels, and clear tables. Yes, I do enjoy this kind of thing - crazy, I know! 

After waking up at 6:30, jogging for the first time in a few days, and then being on my feet and moving around for a good 5 hours, I was POOPED! My legs were to the point of tired that no position was a good position. I was hungry but not hungry enough to fix anything. I tried to nap but my mind had too much going on to let that happen. Yet, I LOVED my yesterday! It was an accomplished feeling at the end of the day. I worked out, worked in an environment that I could easily get used to, was thought to be much older than I am (yay!), and then had plenty of time to relax. I ended the day by making yummy spaghetti for myself and my friend (yes, I do have a few out here) and watching "All the Pretty Horses." Such a beautiful film. Go watch it. So, Saturday quickly went from a day of "nothing planned" to plenty to do, places to be, and meeting new people. That's never a bad thing!

Rather than pay me for helping yesterday, Lisa let me come over today and bake with her. Now, most college students would gladly take money over working in a warm kitchen for 5 hours but I know the knowledge and experience that Lisa has. I want, nay I NEED to learn from her! A woman from Santa Fe, Lisa used to do catering and then moved to Marfa for a relaxing life...only she opened what turned out to be a VERY successful café which then lead to catering and wedding cakes! Anyone who knows me is aware of my LOVE for both cakes and weddings. I don't experience much with recipes - I know what I like and what others like to eat and that's what I stick to. And if I could get my hands on a job that let me meddle in the wedding business, I would be okay with life (just bring me a good, God-fearing cowboy and no one gets hurt!). So, the opportunity to help Lisa with a WEDDING CAKE and learn her recipes, gain some of her experienced knowledge, and establish a friendship with such an intriguing person definitely grabbed my attention. We spent much time flipping through wedding cake books and found that, for the most part, we think the same in that area. Forget flippin fondant - give me a moist slice of cake with little adoration and a not-too-sweet buttercream frosting! Mmm... Anyways, she made me an extra strong cappaccino, much to my liking, I tied on an apron, and we got to working. In the midst of teaching me some never-to-be-forgotten recipes, she allowed me to not only watch and assist but to actually make the sweet frosting and cake. What a lovely time we had! I might even help her with another party on Friday - more experience and cold hard cash :)

After leaving the café on my bicycle (p.s. talk about a workout! especially because the house is uphill!) with my basket laden with bagels, potato salad, and popcorn kernels (she swears it's the ONLY way to make popcorn), I made it home in time to enjoy the rest of the afternoon and the clouds rolling on in. I love being here. I haven't gotten the chance to get bored but that's okay - I am ready to begin my week and thus my summer. I have already learned so much - how much more will I learn working in a hotel?!