Fingerprints All Over My Heart

Day 36

My days are flying past and they are bittersweet. Sweet because each passing moment brings me that much closer to holding my loves in my arms, and oh so bitter because I must leave behind such wonderful people who have become part of me. I have much to accomplish in these next few days and I am thankful for it, for it gives me little time for sadness. I spent yesterday finishing up some of my college evals with my dear friend Jeri Gunderson. We are both “down home types” and the familiar little homilies and colloquialisms that roll off her tongue make me feel right at home while tickling my funny bone. We were like two girls sitting side by side and joking and laughing away the afternoon one moment and then segueing seamlessly into wise-woman discussions about life, God, feminism, midwifery, culture and a myriad of other subjects as the afternoon shadows grew. One of my great sorrows is to leave behind my new friend. We enjoyed an instant rapport with one another and settled into the comfortable place old friends can find themselves in where one can disagree with the other and it is all good. I have found it so enjoyable to be able to be totally comfortable with my own opinions and have the liberty to use my voice without being judged. Thank you Jeri for holding that space for me. I pray that I will take these lessons to heart and always know how to be that kind of friend myself. You have taught me many things but I think the most important is that it is ok to be the strong, loud, sensitive, funloving, opinionated, thinking, feeling, healing, hurting, changing, and totally human woman that I am. It feels really good to have friendship be a safe place to dwell in. What a gift your sharp wit, intelligence, strong personality and gentle loving heart have been to me. You give me great courage through your example.

Yesterday evening we had the last of the Tuesday night dinners (for me). We gather at Jeri’s and she and her daughter always prepare some wonderful American comfort food for all of us homesick interns. Then we enjoy the food and the fellowship of good friends in a family style dinner where children and adults all gather around one table. It has been such good therapy and always a safe haven where once again I am free to be me without fear of judgment. Thanks to Sarah, Jeri, Deborah, Darren, Auden, Aubrey, and Bernadette for creating the dynamic in which we can rest our culture stressed souls. I will never forget, and I am forever grateful. Love to you all.

Today I am heading off for an adventure in the safe care of Helen, the house manager. We are going across the city to an outdoor market. Yea! SHOPPING!