Yet, there with my love I'm home

I really love this picture. That's random-similarly, I want to share a random quote from Fiddler on the Roof. It is a dialogue between Hodel and her father, right before Hodel leaves Anatevka to be with her love, Perchik. Hodel's family is also being forced to leave Anatevka, and they are heading to America. It is a very sad, poignant scene. All this preface for a random quote. So, with no further ado...

Hodel: Papa, God alone knows when we will see each other again.
Tevye: Then we will leave it in his hands.

I spoke too soon

My blog has been very boring lately, yes, I realize this, and this isn't the post that's going to pull it out of disrepair, but here is a funny conversation I had today (this was the longest sentence ever. I used four commas! I am tired, if you couldn't tell).

The only preface this story needs is that an Elder was buying shampoo.

Elder: Well, I sure hope this shampoo smells good...
Me (sarcastically): Um....you could just smell it and see!
Elder: Actually, I don't have the sense of smell...
Companions to this Elder: Yeah, he can't smell. At all. He has to trust us that he isn't buying a girly scent.

I felt a little awkward. Uh, hello Elder? You could just smell the darn shampoo instead of wondering about it! Yikes...sometimes I have tact.

Happiness is smiling upon me

There is an Elder in the MTC who has become very dear to me. He is foreign (I think he may be Russian) and his English is very limited. He is very kind and sincere, though, and always takes time to speak with me. Here is a conversation we had yesterday:

Elder: Natalie, how are you? How is today?
Me: Oh, I'm good, it's been a busy day, but you know...it's okay, I guess. How has your day been?
Elder: Oh, a happy day!
Me: Why so happy?
Elder: A very happy day because I have the light of the gospel in my heart and in my life.

After he said that I just wanted to cry. It was such a simple, beautiful testimony. Even though I spend parts of my life in a myopic state, this Elder helped me remember what is true and so important. He was right, and I am happy.

Attention!

Some of you may know that I recently had to terminate my best friend contract that had been in effect for about a year. This means that I am now conducting interviews to fill the position of contracted best friend! All interested persons are invited and encouraged to apply. The application process includes taking me to Bajio, listening to my random stories, watching musicals with me, providing me with chocolate, and general adventuring (job duties are very similar to the application process). You will be compensated in hours spent laughing, having fun, peanut butter pie, and the aforementioned adventuring. Schedule is very flexible. I look forward to hearing from you!

*Please note that this position is temporary as I already have a best friend who is unfortunately several thousand miles away. There is a possibility for this job to become long term, but we will cross that bridge when we come to it, which will probably be in January.

Trouble is, son, the farther you run...

...the more you feel undefined for what you have left undone. And more, what you've left behind.

Even though you deny it, there is definitely some mis-communication here. This lack of communication stems from the fact that you have no idea how I'm feeling about all of this.

Enchanted

Yesterday I was talking to an orange dot Elder who hails from the city of London. He asked me about my life and I told him that I work part-time in the bookstore and go to school full time. He thought that was so cool and couldn't get over the apparent enchantment of my life. "You go to BYU? And work in the MTC? That is so cool..." he kept saying. The whole time I was thinking, Seriously? Elder, you are from London, England! YOU are the one with the enchanted life! But it really made me think about the way I perceive my life and I realized that my life really is enchanted. I love it. Everything about my life is just so golden, I would be a fool not to see it. I should be so grateful for the life I'm living.

A funny thing happened on the way to the forum

So, the strangest thing happened to me today. *Warning: this blog will have to retain a certain amount of crypticness (which isn't even a word) so if that is going to bug you, I suggest you do not read this post.*

I was driving home from work when I saw something that triggered a set of memories I have locked up in my brain. This is going to sound silly, but as the memories came to mind, I flashed. You've seen Chuck, right? All the FBI's secrets are in his brain, so when he sees something that has a connection to the bad guys he immediately recognizes it and knows everything about it.

My flash was kinda like that. It was like the future I had once imagined suddenly played through my mind. I saw a couple of specific instances, but I was mainly left with an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for the way my life has turned out. It was odd, but almost relieving.

About a boy

Today is Spencer's birthday! Spence was one of my best friends in the very critical years of my life-the high school years. I remember telling Spencer everything. He always listened and, since he is older and wiser than I am, he always gave me great advice. It was so nice having someone to talk with about all my cares and concerns. He constantly reminded me of my divine potential. Even when he was gone, he had a knack for saying in letters just what I needed to hear.

Even though he and I don't talk much anymore, I am so grateful for his friendship. I probably will never be able to say in words how much Spencer's friendship has meant to me through the years. What a great guy.

Realizations

While I have come a long way since last year, there are still some key points of my personality that are very dominant. I'm way too analytical for this! I just like to plan and know what's going to happen...I don't have fun. I like to be very deliberate in every decision I make. That's why I used to be so quiet-I didn't like to speak until I was absolutely certain that I knew what I wanted to say and exactly how to say it. I've definitely learned how to talk with a certain amount of reckless abandon, but there are still things that are hard for me. Like having fun. I'm learning! It's a little stressful for me, but I am learning.