+when this stops we'll be laughing

Culminating two years of the best work I have ever known, a restaurant that screams familiarity with people who I ache because I have to leave, final touches, staring at the emptiness of a once-homey apartment, leaving the keys, feeling dramatic as I close the door, treating myself to a big cookie for finishing everything, feeling like it's borrowed, spending time at a home with people who truly have made me feel at home for my last evening and that being so appropriate, place to place to place of people I just greedily want more time with.

+no need for reminding, you're still all that matters to me

Bongo for the last time with Sarah, enjoying reports when they summarize your own work, the chance to see Kristine one last time and just reeling in the connectedness and fun I have with her, plant transplants, nights at Mafiaoza's and how they never ever are dull, running into people I love and get to say goodbye to,  learning more about Spain from Kindall, just an all around fabulous day despite the craziness.

+missed all dangers, snakes and the floods

Sweet community, feeling very loved, giggling out loud, meetings with the title 'wrapping it up', cathartic conversations, pei wei nights, methodology, sleeping on the ground and staring around the room and remembering so much.

+what we lost means nothing, but the memories wll stay

Loud music, packing it up, long breakfasts with Kindall, funny little presents, feeling comfortable, feeling like time is simply...strange and new, boxes upon boxes, nooks crannies and then more nooks, labels, time well spent, walks around the block.

+the current just sang, the song was so soothing

Big and wonderful breakfasts, traveling days and the massive volumes of reading that is involved in them, cute airplane drink cups, being inspired by a novel, good music, water a plenty, warm spaces, driving my car again, comforting to be back again, hanging out with people for the last time, strobe lights, preparations to do so much.

+these four walls crashing in won't stop me now

Divine breakfasts, spinach, fuel, more slow paced, finding the gifts that fit the people, pool-sitting, learning the art of tuning in and out, the smell of freshly cut grass, boat rides, couch sleeping.

+it's easy to defend the logic of a friend

Good soreness, water bottles that remind me of home, gorgeous landscapes that show intentionality in planning, hibiscus, fruit juice, sunglasses, standing up for myself/being assertive, soccer games and the spirit that soccer brings, excitement about future friends' weddings, connection points, breathing.

+keep taking it easy

Sweet comments, winking, catching someone's eye, politeness, serving one another, searching for perfect gifts, prose, finding the beauty in the ugly, mint chocolate chip ice cream, hot tea, darting, elegance, noted for elegance, posture, sweet in-depth conversations, a comforting, reassuring voice on the phone, listening to my body.

+we'll be rubbing shoulders once again in the sun

Sneaking it in, energized steps, packing snacks, fresh veggies and fruit, trying, day dreams that make me smile, planning the whirlwind ahead, harry potter everything, pumpkin juice, chocolate frogs, riding a broomstick, eating well, long walks, good talks over hundreds of miles.

+add up all the years that you've been gone

Muppets-everything about them, eating pizza at pizza planet and falling in love with Toy Story all over again, the way memories can tell an entirely different story, shows and fun and learning how to thrive a bit.

+just what would be the chances, that i could show you how?

Kids who love snow white and t-rex playing together, keeping it up, flattering compliments, the amount of patience you can find, enjoying it all and feeling new perspectives coming on, appreciating the fanciness of everything, away from it all.

+eight days a week

 Good music playing and trying to bring it together, the Beatles, workouts in hotel rooms, beautiful places, relatives reunited, the customer service through the roof and back.

+you've got a phone, keep me in mind, just give me a try

Gifts that have so much meaning there's no way to say thank you, compliments and fun photography, random errands for work, being free from the 'extras', scarves in the summer time, again with the words thing (constant), being serenaded on the cell phone to stay awake on the drive home, packed and ready to go.

+you're the one thing in this world i don't want to miss

Being a presenter to a gracious crowd, wearing heels for a day and feeling confident, girls night and the mexican government supervision, dancing to bad music, crouching around my last little table, snorton slumber parties and wishing these days could last forever.

+til then walk away, walk away

The well-timed and well-spoken use of words and the power and beauty they offer, the inspiration and the promise they can provide, and just appreciating the people in the world who have command over language, finishing early, library holds that are ready, text messages reminding me that I'm loved, chapstick.

+oh oh oh it's always a surprise

Re-do but so much better this round, feeling the effects, squeezing in time like we're so good at doing, the care and concern from the guy down the road...20 minutes away, another little transition, furniture makes a difference, stuck in the proverbial hard place and the rock.

+a good woman will pick you apart

Office days, being myself, sleek, having a buddy, missing snorton even when we're in the same city, caught in the midst, clocks feeling like they're ticking faster than normal, reaching out towards the next day.

+and i'm balancing history books up on my head

Back in town and hanging with a Golden Retriever, confusing dogs with living room workouts, dogs and their ability to calm and heal, feta and basil concoctions, finally having the time, Bible hunting, fancy dinner at J's knowing all the waitresses, manuals, chewing gum, driving therapy, holidays.

+shout

Sweet mornings of coffee and breakfast, music and conversations, learning all the deeper, not thinking about the busyness, dressing up and feeling elegant, pieces reused, being those girls and Alicia as my date, a beautiful wedding and so many wonderful people in the same place together, dancing for hours, best table, off with the shoes!, sparklers, blanket-talk.

+if you walk away, i'll walk away

SHK breakfasts that make me feel oddly like a part of the ya-yas, oh sweet constructive breakdowns, hunger and response, packed bags and hot sun, letting him drive all the way, his listening ears, eating dinner in Birmingham and meeting up with sweet friends who calm all the nerves in my body, the old city centre, laughing about everything, appreciative for the time spent and the love shared and created, make-shift.

+just stay in when it's lookin' this way

Our "day," the sweetness of knowing each other well for "years", feeling a sense of overwhelming accomplishment and excitement, busyness full of helpfulness, learning all the newness, seeing things come together, learning about the balances of things that formerly felt understandable, mistaken and humble, impromptu and calm, dinners out and unwinding with understanding, getting home after fifteen hours, coming back to a sweet house guest.

+warmer than warm yeah

Calming winds before what you know to be craziness, enjoying the talks again, finding the hopes of rhythm again, sweet comments, loving simplicity, working late, building up.

+i'm retiring from that fight

Getting enough sleep, full length windows, walking still, running into people i want to run into, hugging a dog goodbye before I go to work, oats&berries, happy evening plans to look forward to, gaining confidence in over the phone communications, skirts, bombs, waiting, knowing so many, eoy's and landmines of information, errands and the fun change in routine they bring, closer than ever.

"This is the darkest day I've seen / I can't find an opening / I've never felt this rage in me / I've never known this anger / I'm feeling like a curse / I feel like I'm getting worse / I'm bored with war and songs / I've been bitter far too long / Come on prove me wrong / and tell me I'm not longer / and tell me I'm not crazy / Well maybe just a little bit / Maybe just a little bit crazy / But mostly prove me wrong / They're up to something in my head / I can hear them taunting me / Thanks for nothing imagined friends / I can hear you laughing. / I  feel like a hearse / Like I'm carrying dead / I'm tired of being right / I'm retiring from that fight / hey come on prove me wrong." -Fiction Family

+questions of science, science and progress do not speak as loud as my heart

Driving before sunrise, little pangs of excitement, learning lessons from dogs, homemade brownies, impressed at the flow of it all, baby blue, colors colors colors, warm breezes, comforting locations, defining home, humbled-in-awe-appreciative-feelings, plans that come together like an masterpiece, lying down.

+the details aren't so detailed this way

Caves, eerily clean, candle light, day ones, using frames for the important things/ones, new teas and wonderfully needed catch ups, never where we thought, black coffee paired with wooden nook-like tables, hearing about Spain, developing a style or preference, how cracker barrel seems to always be the place we go when we're the most happy unplanned, fruit-galore!, followthroughfollowthrough, loving looks.

"We were supposed to have a black and white spring / do you remember that? / You're probably packing some things to bring / toss the boxes in the back. / I wrote this down for you / Not because you're leaving / just because we like you / Yeah, just because we like you." -Limbeck

+distance is only an obstacle, hardly a match for a miracle. i'm finally ready to go to california

Sweet chitchat, being called a lady, getting all my thoughts out through pen and paper, productive mornings, pink shirts, rain showers and farmers markets, fresh and local verggies, considerding sweet cece's lunch, peaceful afternoons filled with tons of thinking things through, surprises and when people feel fully loved, basketball, the original flavor this time, puzzles, definitions.

+she broke down the other day, yeah you things in life they change

The third days, prep for excitement, weavings, walking again, tense, creamy pasta, oatmeal lunches, mailboxes, impromptu (the word and the action), barnes and noble in general, owl print, searching for common ground, exhaustion and talking as I fall asleep.

+each scene is acted and beautifully crafted, with rhythm and reason that's brilliantly true

Going harder than ever, sunlight streaming through the blinds and warming me up as I eat my breakfast, liking the outfit you chose for the day, teavana and visiting, plans plans plans, good music while stuck in traffic, golden retrievers and the way their personalities are all so similar, local eateries, opening up to the idea, happy to see others happy, finally arriving, pinkmelonade.

+write out write out write out your words

Slowing down, how much we love just walking around together, coupons, water bottles, finding deals, nectarines and peaches and blueberries, it being the month of June, our fun money, counting it up, homestretches, calls from mom, fun groups of friends, never as you expect it, appreciation.

+you're just screaming into the wind

Nervousness and days back, conversations on the phone, focusing, still missing, using the Italy journal, homemade pizza nights, driving so much for good reasons, explorations, protein protein, down one!, football cravings, musical-mixing, moments that stop time.