As I stated before, here at L'Arche we use anything we can to have an excuse to celebrate. Birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, whatever it may be and yes, it can be stressful, but it really does bring a lot of life, love, and happiness into the equation which is wonderful. So if you ever visit, perhaps Kim from real housewives of Atlanta says it best in her mountains of sage wisdom: do not be tardy for the party (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsoS-RUEbqU&feature=related); please no one ask how I know of this.
Last months celebration was a lot of fun and my favorite party yet so I was hoping we would pick up some steam as a community for THIS months party, ehem, seeing as it is my birthday and at least two other assistants that I know of. This hope was threatened for me after coming down with some good old fashioned influenza. Fortunately I've started to turn the corner and thought I might be up for hearing some affirmations, eating cake, and enjoying the spotlight that I get so little of...Bahaha! Anyways... For the first time in my tenure here as a L'Arche Irenicon assistant:
Community celebration = canceled!
This made me laugh because this crap SO happens to me, I swear. Sidenote: I am also the person who, attempting to lead and get one of the double doors for whomever I am with, pushes the one that is locked and runs into it, while the person I was previously attempting to get the door for uses me as bait and nonchalantly strides in rhythm outside the door that is properly opening & closing. Of course this would be all wrong if it didn't always happen in public too, yay!
Before I left South Africa, I wrote in my journal (not 'diary', Phil) something I was thankful for with every person who made a profound impact on my stay there. In only a few months, the list was longer than I could of imagined. Reminiscing on my time here and the relatively somber blog updates as of late, I wanted to share the lighter side of life. I want to affirm the people who, in a short time, have left my heart full and unscathed. Who have in some small way shared in me a reason to be grateful, excited, and content amidst all the catastrophes!
THANK YOU:
Devin- For throwing footballs and pillows and laughing at me (not with me) all the time
Dan- For being such a cool stud and putting up with my broccoli bantering...but not for leaving me out of your alcohol/cigar/dancer parties late at night in your room
Tom- For being perhaps the first and most persistent 'shape' artiste that I know of
Jim- For always prioritizing sexiness first
Sara P.- For being the glue to the Gandhi guys manliness...you are the Peruvian fire that lights our lives
Vanessa H.- For all that you do, your loving leadership, and tellin it how it is!
Phil P.- Soup de Jour, done
Arthur- For sharing the Red Sox with a Californian
Phil L.- Target-Market-Market-Basket, sing it with me!+awesome photos+I love that sweater on you+eating melted candle birthday cake
Amy- For 'why shertainly'
Fran- For knocking me upside the head when I least expect it
Judy- For remembering, but then unremembering my name, and then remembering it again
Katie- For goofy laughs from the threat of fake pokes
Olive- For the mountains of gummy bears forming in my stomach+guitar fun+surviving creepy chit-chat lounge man with me
Maggie- For the nickname your sister calls you+your Cali/Texas roots+coffee idolatry
Colleen- For your V-neck argyle???+giving Will Ferrell's Angry Boss sketch a chance
Ariana- For putting up with me+Germany fantasies+Your family+telling outright lies about me (ie. who I want to give a bath to)+great conversations+making me cry in public all the time
Joe Kim- For giving me the opportunity to say your name+fashion forwardness+playing basketball in pants
Sister Rose- For being a transparent human being with a whole lot of heart and laughing with me in a short time together
Sister Pat- For that rhythm of grace and faith you call us into+spreading smiles for miles and miles!
Hannah Bell- For your British accent+leaf fights+beach-foam fights+old timer L'Arche stories
Phil Godbout- For being a class act...Your full of love and stories and wrestling!
Donald- For being such an apple-pie head, Haas+being on watch 24/7!
Christine- For being such a sweetheart and your bravery with horses
Debbie- For firetrucks, firetruck noises, anything to do with fires and trucks or the combination of the two
Jane- For good cooking+good humor
Limari- For being a little sis
Jenn C- For being a saint with schedules and sickness!
Ferliannie- For sporting a P-coat that's about half as sweet as mine
Tom Murphy- For bat fights and the inspiration to my follow up book "Death and Isolation"+Woosta instead of Worchester when it comes to Worcester+late night beers with the Grateful Dead
Sara Bara- For newly formed improv case study text messages+whiskey for influenza+fluff fights with my Fletchina
Woody and Dorris- For being full of life+sharing a love for music
Carol- For laughing at me on the phone+pushing me out of the way+silliness
Allison- For grace with timesheets and being such a friendly neighbor in the office!
Pam- For being probably the smoothest and coolest person L'Arche Irenicon could have hoped for in a Development and Outreach Director+making me famous in L'Arche newsletters (To Be Announced)
Swanna- For the job+thinking of me when you needed a burly man help you move a chair into the house+being our community leader (which is an understatement)!
Thanks guys and gals for the memories and really affirming me in my decision to come here. Through our interactions and fidelity in the daily round (Vanier's words), which might seem hopelessly mundane at times, I've felt encouraged to nestle into some cranny of the community and know that I belong. I can't express a gratitude that could envelop all that it has meant to me, but hopefully sharing the little things that have sewn this appreciation can be our common thread.
