After the Storm

One week ago I was completely and entirely miserable. Thank goodness that is not the case tonight. I've been fighting with myself all week. Trying to deal with things, but not having the time to sit in the pain of all of it. It didn't help matters that in closing off the wound before it healed, I started pushing Tad away. I don't know where I would have been this week without him being so supportive. He really is amazing, supporting, accepting, and loving, even when I'm a complete emotional wreck.

I was able to start sorting things out in group last night. It was pointed out to me several times that I have been holding all the pain inside, pretending it isn't there. Later, while on the phone with Tad, I suddenly came to realize something he already knew, but I hadn't seen. I've been really, REALLY angry with my mom about this. not just in the last week, since at least Thanksgiving. That's why every time it's come up,I've exploded. Tad recommended I talk to my mom about it. So, with quite a lot of effort on my part, I brought it up again today.

We had a really good conversation. Nobody freaked out or yelled or got upset. She listened to what I had to say, and said she'd be willing to reconsider things. The downside is it looks for sure like Tad and I will be long distance for one more year, but I'm willing to wait.

In other news, I played my last Symphonic Winds concert on Saturday (not counting graduate graduation, Pomp & Circumstance doesn't count). It was a great concert, possibly my favorite of the 4 years. Becky did my hair really cute, curled with a bow like Shirley Temple. My parents brought me Berry Cool beforehand, and gave me flowers after. It's a beautiful bouquet, all different colors of gerber daisies, mums, and bright orange lilies.

Sunday was the disability event for theo of suffering and disability. We went to Redlands (which is rather far) to a Sunday School class designed for individuals with intellectual disabilities. It was a lot of fun. I can't get enough of working with people with disabilities, which makes it a good thing I'm majoring in a related field :o). Soon after getting back on campus from that I went with a bunch of people from the Romania team to a Romanian church service. The service was for the most part in Romanian, but some of the youth translated for us, pretty cool. I'm so stoked for the trip.

I think that's about it, other than some pretty fun times in the caf Tues for cinco de mayo, they had a lie mariachi band =D. Thanks everybody for the prayers, I really appreciate it :)

The Happiest Place on Earth

Any week that involves a trip to Disneyland has got to be a good week. I love Disneyland, and have some amazing memories there, but this is now one of my favorite D-land trips ever, all thanks to the people I went with.

Best Buddies was able to get less than half price tickets as a special "community involvement" deal from Disneyland. I think this is kind of the same deal as "Happy Hearts Days" when I was little. (If you presented a doctor's letter that mentioned a disability, you could get discounted tickets, this usually was in February) I was worried that the day might be a little hectic thanks to my Spanish class at 1:30, nice and in the middle of the day, but I really feel like I got a good, full D-land day.

My favorite part of the day was watching and interating with the buddies. Their excitement and happiness at being at Disneyland was one of those contagious, warm fuzzy feelings inside, like when you watch babies smile and laugh or see kitties playing. A couple favorite Kathleen moments from the day: as we passed the Blue Bayou "Oh, that looks like such a nice evening atmosphere" and while waiting to go on Nemo she was entirely overjoyed to see a pink autopia car.

I also got to interact a lot more with some of the other buddies than I have at other events. Valerie is very outgoing and friendly with everyone. She's met Valencia before and made it a point on Thursday to keep an eye out to help me, knowing that I don't see well. Upon thanking her at one point she responded with a comment to the effect of "People have to look out for each other."

Michelle is Jessica's buddy, and I have talked with her at several of the last buddy events. She makes it a point to talk with everyone and is often quite persistent with questions. Later in the day when a few of the girls had to head back for class, Jessica went to transfer some things from their car to hers. In her absence Michelle adopted me as her buddy. We went on the Matterhorn and Alice in Wonderland together, and when she and Jessica were leaving she gave me a hug.

There's so much you can learn from the buddies about really loving people and finding joy in the little things in life. I feel so blessed to be able to get to know these people and feel so excited about continuing to work with people with disabilities. For me I don't know what could be more rewarding.

The end.