Downtime

On only a select number of occasions have I had the opportunity to enjoy Phoenix mid-week with no responsibilities.  The weather is nice, the coffee is invigorating, and my mind is calm except for several looming question:  how many unemployed people are there in Phoenix and why, with no income, are they all hanging out at Starbucks?  Who knows, maybe Friends was not that off base in creating a group of young professionals who spend their entire work day in a café talking.  As a teacher, such an idea is laughable.

My time off school has been glorious.  Yesterday I arrived back in town after traveling to Texas for Austin City Limits.  The festival was simply glorious.  Originally I was a bit disappointed with the lineup.  There were not too many artists with whom I was familiar.  By the second day, I realized this was actually beneficial because it introduced me to a whole new world of music to explore.

My favorite performance of the festival was, not surprisingly, Norah Jones.  Her musical and songwriting abilities are such a spectacle.  She held the crowd in silent captivation for a solid hour.  There is also the fact that I have a ridiculous, boyish crush on her.  Most of the show my behavior was probably comparable to that of a teenage girl at some boy band concert.  Although I have to say I did a pretty good job of suppressing my desire to shout things like “I love you Norah” or “Will you mother my children?”  She made eye contact with me though, and I tried to pass on the message telepathically.

Outside of the concert I was able to spend some time with old friends and even show some newer friends around the Austin area.  Strangely enough during the festival I mostly ran into old high school friends.  It was nice to catch up with them and see what they are doing and where they find themselves.  At times it seems weird to think that I am five years out of high school.  Life tends to move at an increasingly rapid pace the older you get.

The rest of the week I plan on sleeping in and using my day to complete some much needed chores that school does not leave time for.  I also have several papers to complete for ASU.  After that it is back to the grind until Holiday Break.  Thankfully, once Christmas comes I really feel as though I can coast.  The bulk of my master’s work is happening now, and by Christmas the students will be scared about graduating.  Things will begin to stabilize and hopefully stay that way until June.

I hope all of you are doing well.  Keep in touch.

Taylor

On the Move

It is hard to believe that only last Friday I stood in the presence of professors, family, and friends to walk across the stage and receive my college diploma.  At this point the feeling is still a little more surreal than it is real.  On a cognitive level I have been unable to grasp the reality of both the magnitude of such an accomplishment and the incredible transition my life is about to see.

Already I have had to say goodbye to a number of dear friends.  It is a rather bittersweet experience – knowing that it will be some time before you reunite again but on the other hand having an feeling of immense pride knowing your friends will move on to do incredible things with their lives.  Having such talented, intelligent, and generous friends is something I have learned not to take for granted.  I consider myself fortunate to say, that which is a rarity in most people’s lives has been a continual blessing in mine.

Currently I am in the early stages of a final Texas roadtrip which will celebrate so many important things in my life: friends, music, and the State which I love so much and will soon leave behind, though only for a short time.  At the moment I find myself in Austin, Texas visiting old friends and reliving many great memories.  Last night I spent some time at the Cactus Cafe and Pub on UT’s campus where there was some great live music by local artists.  This afternoon I went to the Texas State History Museum to brush up on some material that I have not learned since sixth grade.  Tonight a group of us will be staying at my friend Eileen’s.  Her family is always such welcoming hosts, not to mention that her Dad is a phenomenal cook and always feeds us well.

After Austin I will head to Kerrville for two days of camping and some live folk music.  On the 22nd I will have the honor of playing in the festival along with other college singer-songwriters.  My set is not long but it is most definitely something to be proud of.  This is by far the biggest gig I have ever landed and a great “last show” to have in Texas.  After the Folk Festival I will be attending two friends’ wedding in Boerne where unfortunately I will have to say goodbye to most of my friends.  From there I will head back to College Station to finish packing up my things and make a short trip to Dallas before moving on to Phoenix.

As excited as I am to be a part of Teach for America I am also quite a bit nervous.  It is not simply that I will be given the responsibility of shaping young minds, but that I will find myself in a foreign city without a single family member or friend.  Furthermore, I will be leaving a community of individuals who have profoundly shaped and molded me for the past four years.

Undoubtedly it is always difficult to say goodbye.  Transitions and readjustment are always uncomfortable, bringing one’s fears and insecurities to the surface.  However, if there is one thing my experiences have taught me in this short life it is that goodbyes are not only inevitable but necessary to our wellbeing.  Without them we easily grow complacent and unaware of the many blessings that we are bestowed.  It is almost as if saying goodbye makes us more aware of what is truly important in life, what gives the day to day a greater purpose. 

What stands out to me when reflecting on the past four years is not the many hours spent in the library (and they were many), but the late night conversations had around a warm fire, the seemingly endless jam sessions with friends, and those completely random road trips with a cross country biker that no one really knows.  Being aware of what gives our lives meaning is part of saying goodbye, and with this knowledge we can move through life’s stages better prepared to make the most of them.  In this sense saying goodbye, although often painful, is one of the more beautiful and necessary acts of a full and complete life.