Dready-locks and the five bears (A series of unfortunate events)

Once upon a time there was a small family. Well, that actually depends on your definition of small. In any case, there was a family.

In this family, there was a mama bear, a papa bear, and their children: Dready-locks and the three brother bears. Over the years the little children had grown into big children and moved away, but On special holidays the bear family still loved to gather together in the cozy home of their childhood. On one such occasion, the bear family decided to open their home to several temporarily homeless persons including a friend from Northern Ireland, two friends from Singapore, and a friend from Korea/Poland (complicated). This is where our story really begins.

It was a particularly snowy eve when Dready-locks set out upon her noble steed to retrieve two boys from East Quad. She sang happy songs the whole way, naive to the upcoming events which hung over her head like a piano from a frayed rope. Stepping lightly through the snow and into the empty dormitory, she thought to herself "these slippers are so warm and cuddly. It's a good thing I don't have to walk far tonight." The door slammed shut behind her.

*Knock Knock Knock*

...

Knockknockknockknockknockknock

...

"Shen?"

Oh dear. Where were the boys? After countless unsuccessful phone calls, Dreadylocks returned to her car to think. Finally, a responsive ring! The boys were at a hotel. It's hard to say why. Dreadylocks turned the key to start the automobile and smoke poured out from the steering wheel. She turned it back again, took a whiff, and threw open the door to let in the cold. Or let out the smoke. Some kind of exchange.
Time for plan B.

Locking the car, Dredz began the long trudge to Catherine and Thayer. Phone calls left her fingers freezing. The word "slipper" took on a whole new meaning. How humiliating. In the interim between each icy fall, Dredz found herself wading through snowbanks, her slippers filling with snow. One sore butt, two numb heels and several frozen fingers later, she arrived to the apartment of her gracious friends.

Dreadybear offered up a HALLELUJAH for heating, hugs, and borrowed cars. Hawthorne suites was not far at all once she was back in a car. Dexter was only a skip and a wink further. The key turned in the ignition without hesitation, and Dreadylocks was already singing happy songs again. She was on her way back to her bear family and her cozy bear home.

And a dinner of ribs and potatoes.

Hot date

Last night I was picked up from my dorm by a well dressed gentleman in a Lincoln. We rode in luxury (heated seats and Christmas music) to a nearby parking structure, and walked arm in arm to his favorite Sushi restaurant. He held the door for me. The place was empty for the first part of our meal, but our laughter filled up the empty space. After sharing our rolls and trading dum dums, we walked out together and went for an evening drive. We appreciated the Main Street Christmas lights, looked out over the river from Broadway bridge, drove to the highest point on campus for a good view, and stood out in the gazebo at Island lake park. He took me for a tour of North campus- the parts I had never seen- and then drove me to my friend's place. We sat together in the car, waiting for her to arrive. I almost fell asleep listening to Christmas music with my head on his shoulder. When she called, he walked me to her door and then said goodnight.


I love my brother.
My standards are set way too high now.

Finally finished finals

Hats off to long nights of movies and mafia.

Nothing says family like breaking trust and killing friends.

p.s. I am so blessed. Morning prayer and brekkis with Isabelle. Shopping with Mom, Theresa, Elana. Bubble tea and Britney videos with Karen, Caputo, Schow. Dinner with Alice and Sylvia. Groceries with Ruth Lin. Snuggles with Tiffany. Staff bonding. A lot of lovin for one day!!!

Like Ruth and Naomi

Abbie: All of my possessions are your possessions
Joan: Your God is my God
Abbie: Your home is my home
Joan: Your brother is my boyfriend

His mercies are new every morning

Last night was one of those... you know... all nighters. God blessed me with a room full of friends coming and going throughout the night, helping me to stay awake, motivated, and cheerful.

But there came a time when the last studious student headed for home. For a moment it was just me. My soul took an anticipatory breath. Usually I don't do well with 'alone.'

Before my lungs had even filled, the lyrics of the next song began:

---
Are we left here on our own?
Can you feel when your last breath is gone?
Night is weighing heavy now
Be quiet and wait for a voice that will say

Come awake
From sleep, arise
You were dead
You’ve come alive
Wake up wake up
Open your eyes
Climb from your grave
Into the light
Bring us back to life

You are not the only one
Who feels like the only one
Night soon will be lifted friend
Just be quiet and wait for the voice that will say
come awake...
---

Thank you Jesus for an intimate moment. I wouldn't trade it for a room full of friends.

Dana building, floor four, sunlight and solitude

I used to write in blogs.

Livejournal
Xanga
and the unforgettable abbeeb.thisenddown.com

It's kind of embarrassing now, but it's also amazing to look back on my past. Sometimes I'm amazed by how much has changed, but what's more surprising is how much has stayed the same. When I look back at my younger self, I picture a completely different person. It makes it easier for me to excuse my mistakes and insufficiencies. In a few years I'll probably be looking back on "Abbie 2.0, the college edition," and flippantly setting aside my shortcomings as system errors which hadn't been fixed yet.

The thing is, I've always been Abbie, and I always will be.
I'm working on coming to terms with that, since I'll be stuck with this for the rest of my life. There are some perks to being me :) And there are certainly some bugs in this version that will need to be taken care of by the time the next one comes out.

In a selfish way, blogs are good for taking a snapshot of life so that I can look back later and see how I've grown, but also how some things just don't change.

Abigail: Father's Joy. Please keep it that way. Everything else can change.

Why this migration? Fish to North, North to Fish.

Finals, like a wound
and you are a clotting factor.
Wherever you study
others gather.
It keeps us from bleeding.

(We will heal eventually.)

The Frozen North

A flight of Harvesters just left the Dude
like a flock of geese
honking their affection and frustration
packing their bags and flapping their wings
a scurry of feathers and emotions,
and the ever constant promise,

"I'll see you tomorrow."

My heart is in a heap
on the floor
My mind is dancing restlessly
as if to say
"I have to pee"
Or some other anxious expression
of anticipation and the inability
to wait a minute longer.

I strain my eyes
to see the end,
which would be in sight
if it weren't so dark outside.

How good it is to be known
to be understood
to be desired, or at least desirable.
How good it is to know
there are more important things
than these deadlines,
and that life will go on
even if we never meet our goals.

Sweet sweet sleep
sweet sweet memories
swiftly fleeting moments,
l o n g d r a g g i n g h o u r s

I PROMISE NOT TO REGRET

as long as you promise
not to forget.

Feeling a bit poetic now...

It's blue outside.
The chameleon sky has changed its color
to blend in with the ground.
Nothing separates the two
but a rugged line of brown buildings and trees.
Winter evenings.

Melancholy though I may be,
I am making it just fine.
Papers take time
Sometimes all night
To write
The right things.
Finished products do not always satisfy,
but everyone needs sleep.

Blessings come in smiles, hugs, emails, back massages, food.
When it's time for finals, you just have to survive.
Keep going until it is over.
You'll get through. You always do.