Wednesday, August 29, 2007

And Life Goes On

I remember reading once a fantasy/sci-fi book with a "mind control" theme In the story, there was an "It" that had captured the minds of an entire village. The subjection of the village was illustrated by all the children coming outside at exactly the same time every day to "play." They each had a ball and they would bounce their balls simultaneously for a pre-specified amount of time before simultaneously catching their respective balls and going back indoors. The adults of the shadowed village explained to visitors in a monotone that life was better with "It." There was nothing to fear because everything about their past, present, and future was entirely known and predictable. There was nothing to fret about because there was never a decision to be made.

My life is not like that.

For one, I don't suppose I could bounce a ball more than a dozen times consecutively without losing it. And I've had a healthy pile of decisions and uncertainties to wade through.

As you know, I've been facing a few decisions just lately. In case you were curious, I'm employed now part time with a medical billing firm. And I have a car. Also an amazingly incredibly trustworthy God and nothing whatsoever to complain of.

Monday, August 20, 2007

Just Today

I woke up this morning at the perfect time to be ready for an early morning appointment. Early for me, that is. I generally don't make pre-8:00 a.m. appointments if I can help it.

Later in the morning, I arrived safely and at the perfect time for yet another job interview. I have nearly had more job interviews in the last three weeks than I have in the rest of my life combined. (That statement is only impressive when I withhold the number of my previous interviews.)

Still later, when I was done setting up another interview for tomorrow, Dad said he only wished he could get interviews as easily as I seem to be able to. I reminded him that my goal really isn't to get interviews.... If thou hast enough interviews to qualify thee for Most Popular Applicant 2007 and still havest not a job, thy interviews are as confetti in a rain storm. Ah well. I don't suppose I would even be considered for Most Witty 2007, so I might as well compete for Most Popular.

This afternoon, I curled up on my bed for a few minutes and read about the early days of NASA and the day-to-day life of a NASA mission controller. Gene Kranz helped pioneer America's space program from the beginning--and sat at a control console through the Apollo missions and beyond. I found myself fascinated by the world of mission control and its racing heart throb of stressful activity that drove America onto the moon.

It alternately dripped and poured down rain all day today. Really, it has been the wettest summer of my recent memory. 'Tis fortunate that I love the rain. Speaking of summer, it is almost gone. Even as I type, I can glimpse a suddenly-yellowing maple tree from my window. Some of it's extremities are painted already in...brown. (Much as I'd like to, I simply can't make myself call it gold.) 'Tis fortunate I love fall.

It is almost time for dinner now. We are having soup and I can smell it. Soup, I think, was invented on a rainy fall day.

Not so very long ago, I sat down to write here. At first, I was looking only at a blank screen, thinking of various topics I might reduce to black specks on your computer screen. I was having trouble deciding between them, though. Then Abigail came by and offered her assistance.

"Write about me," she said, "talk about how nice I am."

Well, she is.

Friday, August 17, 2007

Thank You

...for all the comments you will leave when you find out that today is my birthday. :)

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

The Million Dollar Question

If I had a million dollars...

I would hire a chauffeur. A super extra-special, extremely practical, directionally sound, mechanically inclined chauffeur. Bonus points if he likes talk radio.

Then again, a chauffeur might take some of the variety out of life. He could effect my reputation for being the kind of person Things Happen To. And he would definitely eliminate some of my continuing education.

I've always been inclined to vehicular adventures. It dates back to my learner's permit days when my brother begged, "Let Katie drive, she's so much fun! She goes 'aah!'and then SLAMS on the brakes!" My first car was a five speed manual transmission. I used to joke about carrying medications with me when I was driving to treat my parents when they had their certainly inevitable heart attack. They didn't laugh.

By the time we moved to a metropolitan area for a short period of time two years ago, I no longer jerked and squealed my way down every road. But I had managed to acquire a new reputation. My always eloquent brother summarized it when he smilingly informed me it was fun to drive with me because he always got to see new places. This was in reference to my exceptional skill at wandering confusedly through locales far distant from those I wished to visit.

Nor have my adventures with cars ended with sudden stops or directional jumbles. In the last three years, I have driven not one but two cars down to their final moment.

Last Friday, since I haven't yet replaced my own car, I drove Paul's car comfortably to the grocery store. The startling racket it made when I tried to start it back up again and go home left me confident in deciding not to drive it home. It also left the ice-cream melting while I patiently waited for someone to come pick me up (yet again!). I have considered carrying a book with me everywhere from now on for emergency purposes...at least I'd have something to do while waiting in obscure places for kind family to come and rescue me.

I've learned, over these last few years, what a timing belt looks like. Radiator, alternator, battery, motor, clutch...one by one I've added basic information to my sketchy knowledge base. As of last Friday, I know a little bit more about starters. Slowly, in the most torturous way possible, I am becoming familiar with what a car really looks like underneath it's deceptively simple shell. Just as I am tortuously becoming familiar with Seattle and its every (single) suburb.

My lovely friends and kind acquaintances are always kind and helpful in their suggestions. At the moment, they are recommending GPS and a bicycle.

I think I'd settle, after all, for that qualified chauffeur.

Thursday, August 09, 2007

I Am Not Like This (Am I?)

Usually, normal housework and dishes get done without a wrinkle in our harmonious household.

Really.

Sometimes, they don't.

As the frequent (NOT self-appointed) sibling Mediator in Chief, I sometimes hear from the dishes team.

"Katie, who should wipe the counters? The person who washes dishes, or the one who dries them?" "Katie, who should clean the stove?" "Katie, who puts fresh butter in the dish?"

My all-time favorite was (and I quote): "Katie, who has to close the cupboard after the dishes are put away?"

It had been a while since one of these small turbulences has erupted. But, alas! Our peace was not to be permanent. A couple of days ago, when The Dishes Crew had permission to do the dishes in the dishwasher instead of by hand, they appeared near the end of clean up time, calling my name: "Katie! Who has to start the dishwasher?"

Servant's hearts, I hereby deduce, must be cultivated.

Monday, August 06, 2007

All Said & Done

I need a t-shirt. A t-shirt emblazoned with words indicating:

"I survived July '07"

Oh, I don't mean to indicate that last month wasn't enjoyable. It would take dozens of blog posts to adequately capture a deep contentment and happiness I can only summarize here...silent girls studying Bibles and running tears; laughing children and raucous games; hot meals and hungry tummies; insistent questions and Bible answers; jubilant songs and colorful crafts; midnight sign language lessons and pre-breakfast conducting lessons; silent prayers and souls saved; lemon and honey; frogs, spiders, and high pitched shrieking.

Actually, last month really wasn't "enjoyable"--it was beyond fabulous!

But there is no denying that there were times throughout the month I wasn't sure I could keep putting one foot in front of another. And then there was that red letter day in which I stood on the shoulder of a busy off ramp with a head cold, running late to my parent's surprise 25th anniversary party, restraining my mind from racing to the week of out of town company and Vacation Bible School ahead of me, watching my car steam its life away and wondering where money was going to come from to replace it...

When God wishes to make a point, He has no trouble being unambiguous about it.

I guess as I move on to "the next thing," it's safe to infer that I can't handle life on my own any more than I ever could, and He can handle it just as well as He always has.