july twentysomething

greetings.
Hm. I made it through my first year after all. I learned a lot at stolaf this year…it was certainly where I was supposed to be. Now I’m back in good old Edina. I just returned from road trip one of two, actually. My friend Billy and I (that is, mr. beegee and I) drove to Wisconsin last week. We stopped in Appleton on Tuesday to see Annika, a friend from stolaf. We went to the Jansport outlet store and got hoodies and misprinted tee shirts for cheap. Then we got some pizza at Frank’s Pizza Palace, bought some records, and watched Ghost World. Ghost World. Oh dear. Anyway, from Appleton we went to Milwaukee. Billy has some relatives there, so we had lunch with his grandma and then spent the afternoon with his aunt and seven year old cousin, Katie (who is extremely intelligent–color me impressed). Wendesday night we drove to Lake Geneva, where my friend Jorie lives. Jorie was the one who caught at least a few kernels of popcorn–remember? Anyway, Jorie, Billy, and I explored the town, witnessed a burglary and the burying of a body while walking on the lakeshore path, went to the beach, played bocce ball…all sorts of things. I was also teased because of my very Minnesooooootan accent. While in Appleton, I actually caught myself saying, “dontcha know?”
On our way home, Billy and I stopped at a Flea market in Adams, WI and TRIED to find recreation days in Friendship, WI (we’d read about recreation days on a Wisconsin tourism website, I believe). There wasn’t much happening in Friendship, though. Maybe next year…anyway, it was great to see Annika and Jorie, and it was nice to escape the hubbub for a few days.
There isn’t much hubbub. Really. I was hoping to get a position at a bakery making bread, but the job fell through. By chance, I ended up at a knitting store instead. I’m in yarn sales now. I feel a bit like a librarian who can’t read…I haven’t been knitting very long…most of the customers know more about yarn than I do–after all, they’ve all been knitting for 30+ years. I’m learning a lot though, and the discount helps quite a bit. Even though the weather’s warm, I haven’t been able to stop making mittens.
Perhaps it’s the yarn craze, but I miss the rain. There’s something about the way rain washes away the grime and the shine–the dirt and the glitter–that makes everything feel real again. I’ve been waiting for rain for weeks now…I’ve managed to sleep through the few thunderstorms we’ve had lately…though many may not support me and my cause, I long for the June weather. I want to hear the storms outside my window, watch the rain bounce off the street as it hits the ground, sit on my porch steps curled up in a blanket and smell it–and then dance in it. I want to get wet. If only I could swim through life…INSIDE life…
A friend of mine recently asked me if I’d rather be able to fly or breathe underwater. I told her that I don’t wish for either superpower, but if I had to choose one (and use it for something meaningful) I’d much rather be able to breathe underwater. There’s something incredibly attractive about depth–if I could breathe underwater, I believe I’d spend my life trying to swim to the bottom of the deepest ocean. I’m still trying to decide whether or not I’d actually like to REACH the bottom…you see, a life spent swimming towards a goal you’ll never reach isn’t that enticing…but I also think that making it to the bottom could be incredibly disappointing. I mean honestly. What now?? I’ve explored all of the deepest, darkest, coldest places imaginable–and now that I’m there, what I’m a going to do? Take a picture, return to a tropical island and go on TV? Naw. I’d never be happy swimming in shallow water. I don’t want to play with the fishes–I want to dream with the fishes.
Regarding flying: I’ve never wanted to be able to fly. It looks rather uncomfortable. I’ve come to appreciate–and rely on–gravity and the normal force. In other words, I like to have something solid under me. I like pressure. In fact, I feel best lying down, and I believe that’s because in that position, at least 40% of my body is connected to something physical–and something sturdy. I believe in stability! Hurray! In all seriousness. In the last couple of years, I’ve come to understand the importance of stability–especially in my relationships. I’m so lucky to be surrounded by such loving people. Thank you all for that.
I’m making some changes this fall. I withdrew from St. Olaf last spring and applied to Hamline University (St. Paul, MN) as I transfer student. I was accepted, and I’ll be starting there September 9th. I registered for classes this morning, and it looks as if I’ll be taking Macroeconomics, Crime & Justice in America, a religion class about the Gospels, and Latin American Studies. I’m on a waiting list for Anthropology, but I’m not counting on getting in. I’ll be commuting every Tuesday and Thursday, and I’m hoping to keep my current job. Though the decision to transfer was a tough one, I believe I made the right choice. I’m looking forward to my classes this fall.
I ought to get going. Steve Kimball only has so much patience, and this letter has gotten a bit long. I hope you’re all doing well. Drop me a line if you get a chance. Take care.
love anna