This morning I sent a quick text out asking people to be downstairs by 9:10 to catch the train to Arlington (we were late getting out the door last week). Surprise!! Everyone was waiting downstairs-- early! What?! And we had an extra person! We added one more chap for the week with a visitor!
Wrangling 6 people to the metro for church seemed an easy task... until we all broke into separate factions: the speed walkers, the slow walkers, and Mama Clarice (I've been dubbed), the sheepdog trying to keep them all in sight. We barely missed the transfer train this morning, but time passes quickly when you're in a group of friends. My hip wasn't happy about standing still so long, but it worked out. We got our coffee, bagels, and diet coke at the metro cafe. I had joked with Abby that we were going to get really cozy in the back seat now that there were seven people total to transport -- we had decided to go in two groups when a bus pulled up for us! This was great because we didn't have to share our seats. Haha. |
We met Dr. Patty at the church. Worship --ahhhmazing. I may ask about joining the singing group. I'm not a fan of praise teams, but this one sits in the pews with microphones.... I wouldn't dream of joining a praise team on a stage, but sitting down is something I don't have an issue with. We'll see... God has put a gnawing desire on my heart to be serving here at church somehow. I've been talking with them for a week now... we'll see where God puts us!!
We had photos afterwards with an elder and his wife, both alumni, and then Dr. Patty left to save the day somewhere else while we became better acquainted with the alums over lunch. It was so very nice of them, and we had a wonderful time.
On the way back to the RAF, at least two guys tried to get my attention. I stomped on one guys foot (COMPLETELY on accident!!), and when he said "There are better ways to get my attention. ;)"
Oh geez.
I heaved a deep internal sigh and thanked God that we were so close to our transfer point.
One lesson DC has taught me is that strangers are not dependable. You can't depend on them to have some end game, and you can't depend on them to just be nice. Some will chat you up to pass time on the metro, and others will seem nice at first and then barge through your introvert bubble without an invitation. There's no consistency! On the second train, some fellow decided to bang on my window.
I'm emotionally exhausted from being so heavily engaged in social situations between church and lunch, and from not having this stranger take the hint that I didn't care to talk to him, and so the window thing almost undid me. I was sitting there daydreaming of my quiet room and doing mundane chores -- silently.
Finally home, I did just that. For three hours I recharged by tidying up my half of the room, reorganizing a couple drawers in my dresser, writing letters and postcards, and journaling. It was all done in glorious silence.
We had photos afterwards with an elder and his wife, both alumni, and then Dr. Patty left to save the day somewhere else while we became better acquainted with the alums over lunch. It was so very nice of them, and we had a wonderful time.
On the way back to the RAF, at least two guys tried to get my attention. I stomped on one guys foot (COMPLETELY on accident!!), and when he said "There are better ways to get my attention. ;)"
Oh geez.
I heaved a deep internal sigh and thanked God that we were so close to our transfer point.
One lesson DC has taught me is that strangers are not dependable. You can't depend on them to have some end game, and you can't depend on them to just be nice. Some will chat you up to pass time on the metro, and others will seem nice at first and then barge through your introvert bubble without an invitation. There's no consistency! On the second train, some fellow decided to bang on my window.
I'm emotionally exhausted from being so heavily engaged in social situations between church and lunch, and from not having this stranger take the hint that I didn't care to talk to him, and so the window thing almost undid me. I was sitting there daydreaming of my quiet room and doing mundane chores -- silently.
Finally home, I did just that. For three hours I recharged by tidying up my half of the room, reorganizing a couple drawers in my dresser, writing letters and postcards, and journaling. It was all done in glorious silence.
There was a FIFA taco party in the basement at 5PM, but I chose to go to small group alone again. It was a quiet ride to the Huntington stop, so I took the time to write another postcard...
I love small group. I feel such a warm connection with them. It's comfortable. I spoke up a lot tonight during the discussion.... it felt nice to feel so comfortable.
Tonight I drove home with another intern, the woman from last week, and another young man who goes each week to small group. It was thoughtful and I was thankful not to have to ride the metro home alone for the hour it would have taken.
Tonight I drove home with another intern, the woman from last week, and another young man who goes each week to small group. It was thoughtful and I was thankful not to have to ride the metro home alone for the hour it would have taken.
Blessings,
Clarice
Clarice