Awake

A Marathon of Togetherness

When we were in high school, Alex and I used to do something on Friday night, then she'd decide to sleep over, so then we do stuff Saturday as well, and then she might decide to stay over Saturday night as well. My mom used to call these types of weekends "marathons of togetherness." This past weekend was a sort of recapitulation of the marathons of togetherness of long ago. We decided on the term "recapitulation" because it truly felt like our friendship somehow came full circle and we got to witness the exact moment in time that it was renewed, that a former chapter ended and a new one began. It's like we could sense the page turning.

This weekend Alex graduated from Otis School of Art and Design. Studying art formally has been a long time goal of hers and the amount of sweat, tears, and puke that went into accomplishing this goal has been heart-wrenching. Seeing her installations in both the fine and the digital arts was exciting. Seeing the accomplishments of the seniors as a whole was astonishing and delightful. Knowing that this was just another beginning to yet another journey was humbling and exhausting to think about, but exhilarating just the same.

These impressions of hope, promise, and potential were almost too much to bear, but so good to experience. I feel tired but courageous. I have the courage to resign from a prideful existence of lackeyhood and encouragement to listen closer, draw closer, and be closer to my God, my Creator, my Savior, my Friend.

Thanks for a great marathon of togetherness, Mav. May the months and years to come bring accumulations of hope, storehouses of promise, and truckloads of potential scanned, signed-for and successfully delivered to our doorsteps. And may our hearts be enlarged to receive these things and make the most of them. (Oh, and let there be love. Lots and lots of love.)

Goose out.