Words From My Father

Do not forsake the wisdom of your elders. 

Older people, your parents especially, have many years of experience and insight to bring to the table. And if they love you, you will hear the truth. Because they aren't afraid to tell you like it really is. 

In these moments, be ready to receive it. Do not harden yourself to their words, because only foolish people spurn wisdom. And you don't want to be a fool.

I say this because I had a decision to make this morning. Would I carry this hurt, or would I learn to let it go? Last night my mom brought something up from the past, something I didn't think was a big deal. Something I had already apologized for. And it hurt. Why hasn't she gotten over this? I thought she had forgiven me. And I didn't even think it was my fault to begin with. Poor communication, perhaps. But my intentions weren't wrong.

The Light in Dark Places

It's funny, that moment when you catch a person realizing they're not where they're supposed to be. 

A well-to-do couple, judging by the looks of their SLRs and leather sandals, are enjoying a vacation in San Francisco. They are walking from Market Street with shopping bags in hand. After a block the man stops in his tracks, looks at his wife, then pulls out a map. This isn't the same district they were at five minutes ago. 

On turning 30

Today I'm turning 30. 

I've been reflecting over the past few weeks on my life up to this point. The day has come sooner than I thought, though in some sense it took forever to get here. I've had many losses and triumphs, some bumps and bruises along the way that were necessary to get here in retrospect. There were also some things I thought I'd have by now that I don't. 

Thanks for the Memories, Oregon

There are moments you can plan for on a trip, but the memories you take away with you sometimes come when least expected.

The stars lit our way back home as we drove into the night. The sky was dark but not dim; in the distance tall silhouettes of trees swept by like blurred shadows. The only sound was the rolling air as we cut through the wind. Stars, trees, sky, air.

The surroundings were simple, almost cliche, but in this moment I was lost. Not forgotten, but absorbed. Into something greater and more sublime that for minutes I had ceased from the world's troubles and my own.