I'm tired of my Marshall Essay. Got to get it done. My contact person at the University, he's sure being nice and patient.
posted by Byran @ 8:23 PM
44 comments
the by-log
A log of the days and times of Byran Smucker: a happily-married, left-handed, tenor-singing, fair-thinking, Jesus-believing, familyandfriendsandchurchandfootballandbasketball-loving, graduate student in Statistics and Operations Research at Penn State, who’s a Mennonite to boot.
Wednesday, September 15, 2004
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44 Comments:
1 Comment looks SO much more content than 0! And so, the lady scrambles desperately through the day's events trying to find something of interest to share.
OOOOOOHHHHH! I'm thinking now. (Harumph! I clear my throat and begin.)
The moment was pure magic. The air was filled with an unnerving electricity. The public buzzed with an unexpressed excitement. Merry and Ag graced the thronging masses together.
Okay, okay, so I'll be honest. There was no magic, no electricity, no excitement and no thronging masses, but I DID have the opportunity to meet Merry face-to-face for the first time as "Ag".
Just thought I'd share that for the history books. I may never meet any of the rest of you. That may be a good thing though. I don't think I should be in the same building as Tom.
Ag
Oh, and Merry, I forgot to tell you that you scared me to death. Really people, I could have died of heart failure!
Picture me sitting innocently at a table completely minding my own business, quite lost in thought. Suddenly, hands grab my shoulder and someone blasts out a jolly "Hey Ag" right into my unsuspecting right ear. I mean, that would scare anybody.
Ag
The Jentle Jumpy Jiant
Oh man, that annoys even me! Quiver!
Ha ha! That's funny! I sure wished I could've seen that!
So what was the occasion?
Tom
We worshiped together. In a never-ending service too I might add. :) And then, we, well, sort of did lunch. And then, we sat on a church pew and talked about you. And then.....okay, that about sums it up.
Ag
You've been completely influenced by By. Vague generalities and zero details.
Tom
Not hardly.
What else do you need to know. We had church together. But, as usual, being the gracious person that I am, I will answer you every question.
Do you want me to give you an essay on my day? Or, no. Maybe I'll just write a book.
Ag
An essay is fine. You live far, far away from each other. How did you happen to converge?
Tom
I was at her church.
Ag
Wow, thanks for that revelation. I'm sure it took a lot out of you.
Tom
Oh it did. But I try to be giving.
What am I supposed to tell you, you nosy thing?
Ag
That's ok, never mind. I found out all about it. You guys sang and sang that morning didn't you. Wish I could have been there! Catlett is a great place, sometimes they just won't let you stop singing.
I've also toured Choice Books. I really like that place. They gave me a book too when I was there!! And remember, if you ever get tired of singing don't "throw in the towel!"
I'm sure you were glad that you could get back from the NQC in time for that MA tour huh.
Tom
Tom, you are a BRAT and someone with a big mouth is in TROUBLE! (But don't worry, I still want to meet you.)
There are certain aspects of my life that I really don't like to discuss. Especially in here!
Sigh. So, how much do I weigh? You seem to know everything else.
Ag
Now Ag, nobody's in trouble, and if they are it will be ME!
I think you shouldn't be so afraid of being open, of letting people learn to know you.
I have no idea what you weigh. Nor do I care. I'm too busy being alarmed at my own ever-increasingly upwordly mobile scale readout!
Oh well, at least I'm still only in triple digits.
Tom
Maybe you're right. I need to digest that.
Nobody's in trouble.
Ag
The "maybe" can be taken out of it. You are absolutely right.
I'm sorry!
Ag
Yes, Thomas, we SANG and SANG. It didn't get old though, (sometimes it does). The last time the MA's sang there, one of the guys passed out during the concert. I BEGGED him to do it again this year. I've never seen anyone pass out, but he didn't.
I was tempted to do wrong when I toured Choice Books. I was tempted to, (draw a horrified breath), STEAL. I wanted to grab books right and left. But I didn't yield to the temptation. I won't "throw in the towel", it's wrapped around me too tightly to be released.
Missed the last two days of NQC, which was great by the way, to come home for the weekend. Sunday was VERY long. Got up at like some un-godly hour, like 4:30 or something like that. Drove four hours and tried to sleep. Sang until 12:30, ate, talked to Merry, toured Choice, drove to the next destination, freshened up, sang again, ate again, crawled on a hot bus again, tried to sleep again,.......this all takes place after a week on consistently going to bed at 2 a.m. 4:30-1:30 is a long day. I was quite weary. Actually, I was brain-dead. After our evening concert the sweetest lady was talking to me and I couldn't even carry on a decent conversation. Hate that. I blinked once while I was singing, my eyes almost didn't open again. So brain dead in fact that when I sang with my sisters during intermission, I flat out missed three notes in the beginning of a song that I could normally sing standing on my head and drinking lemonade. Not missed them as in wasn't quite on. I'm talking missed as in completely having no clue, suddenly, what you are supposed to sing. Brain-dead. That was me. But I have recovered quite well.
Did I miss anything?
Ag
No you didn't, that was wonderful! Just what I had in mind! Thank you Ag.
How is the Ag-blog coming??!!
Tom
You are so welcome. I'm trying!
The "Ag-blog"? Tom are you actually, honestly, completely serious?
Anita J. Beachy
aka
Ag
p.s. hey, I've gotta start somewhere......eeeeeek
About you starting a blog? Dead serious. How can I help you?
There are plenty of anon blogs out there too, you can be completely anonymous if you wish.
Tom
People seem to have issues with the whole anon thing. Never bugged me, but....
How can you help me? First of all, convince me. Why should I have a blog? Other than the fact that I talk so much in here and it would clear space. (But if people would only know how much I want to say and don't....) Oh, "if people would know how much I want to say and don't". So, that's it? Hmmm. Thinking. I don't know. I think I would feel stupid, not that it matters. I just don't know. You seemed so convinced that it would be a fine thing. Okay, here's a question. Would it be just a fine thing, or a good thing? I guess that would depend on me.
Thinking, I'm thinking.
Ag
It would be both fine and good. It would be wondrous. Just think, you could write to your hearts content and have a built-in audience (all your fans on the by-log) to inspire!
Think of all the emotional satisfaction! Think of the fulfillment in saying all those things that need to be said!
You know what, Merry should have a blog too. So should Crystal.
Tom
I am not convinced. You need to work a little harder on your powers of persuasion.
Ag
I think I'll stick to driving the public crazy and just commenting. I think I'm going to start working on my book. Which is funny in and of itself. What do I know about writing? Nothing more than the fact that I do enjoy it, mostly, and I have an over-active imagination, and I love and understand kids. So, it might work. Might take me twenty-years, so I had better get started.
Ag
So I'd say you're qualified. Go for it. I love good children's books, and would love to read yours. Make it rank up there somewhere with "Ira Sleeps Over" and Frog and Toad.
Crystal
No Ag! You have to get a blog! You don't know how much you'll disappoint me if you don't.
Writing a book and having a blog aren't mutually exclusive! And you can't just write whatever is in you that needs to come out in your children's book, that's what the blog is for. You need it.
Tom
Crystal, I love children's books. I collect children's books. My current favorite is one that I got this past spring when my sister and I were in Ireland it's called, "Stuck in the Muck". It is adoreable, and hysterical. There is this duck, which gets stuck in the muck, and he has this little car. He even drives on the opposite side. My nephew loves it.
Tom, talk to me about blogs. You are increasing your powers of persuasion. Spell it out to me the ABC's of blogging. You tapped into my one single vein of interest.
Ag
Oh Crystal, I keep forgeting to ask. Do you know Lavern and Lolita, um forget the last name.
Ag
Well come to think of it, Ag, I think I do. They're part of the team here, so I kinda like work with them and stuff. What's your connection?
Stuck in the Muck sounds great. The thing that makes my nephew laugh is the book that uses the German word "Danki" (?) for "thank you" in it. It just gives him the giggles. Hey, let's get together and look at children's books.
Crystal
Yes, shall we meet, say, five? I wish.
My connection? Well, we go a long way back. Lita smeared lotion over my sun-roasted body and brought me drinks in bed. To sum it up quickly, I know her family. Anytime I am in GA, I stay with her parents. She happened to be there at the moment of the famous sunburn incident. Three fair-skinned northern girls had far too little respect for southern sun. We went jet skiing one day and swimming the next. HA! And the next day we spent completly ill. That had to be the worst sunburn I have ever had in my life. And I've had my share. I had a death wish. And we drove home in that condition. Worst trip in my life. I had masses of oozing blisters. Oh, I shudder at the mere memory. I'll quit now. I'm feeling dehydrated. Lolita was an angel of mercy.
Ag
Incredibly interesting. Can't wait to discuss that with Lolita. So when are you coming to Poland to visit? Merry's coming next week. HooRAY!!!
Crystal
Back to the comment about being in Ireland, Ag, I bet that means you know Anita Yoder? I just learned to know her this summer.
Crystal
Merry's coming to visit, huh?! Wow.
I'll email you about blogs Ag.
Tom
Actually, I don't really KNOW her, I met here while I was over there. I know her brother and his wife. We stayed with them for a couple days before we hit the country.
It is SUCH a small world! So, who else do you know that I know?
Ag
Oh, I missed the first comment. Poland? Hmmm. You don't even know me. Or, I don't even know you. I shy away from "visiting" people that I don't know. I would rather just blast my way into a country where I know no one. Ireland was SO much fun. We had the times of our lives!
Merry had told me that she is coming. She was quite thrilled.
Ag
Oh, and while I'm merrily commenting anyhow. Tell Lolita that I said hello. Actually, I will very likely see her in November at her sister's wedding. They have such a dear family. Her parents are outstanding people. I call her mother my "Georgia Mom". Just love them. Oh, I love her brother. He is one of the ONLY people that calls me "AniTa", instead of "AniDa". Most people don't use the "t" in my name and I fall in puddles when they do. I don't even use it myself. It feels weird. But I just adore when I meet those rare and wonderful people who do.
Ag
Oh you don't have to come visit me. You could come visit Lolita, but then I could meet you. And stuff.
Crystal
Yeah, great thought but I actually don't know Lolita that will either. :)
Tell me about your work.
Ag
My work. Oh my. Okay, three mornings a week I homeschool and teach piano/music to the children of the family I live here with. Four evenings a week I teach English at a private English school named The Globe. I have six groups, ages 10-adult. I meet with, at the moment, four private students once or twice a week each to simply talk and converse in English. I go for Polish class once a week. Ladies' Bible Study on Wednesday afternoons. And sprinkled throughout, get togethers with former students and normal work of living. There you have it. My life. Really, it's an incredible privilege to have the opportunity to be involved in this kind of thing. Interested anyone? We need new VSers for the future.
Crystal
And, Ag, another item of it's-a-small-world interest: the guy that Lolita's sister Heather is marrying, Jonathan Miller, is an old bud, yet-unmet friend of Tom's!!
Crystal
Wow, you have a life! I fight off a wave of jealousy and depression. It's not that I don't have a life. It's just....well.....I tell God I want to move mountains for Him, and He hands me a shovel and sets me in front of an anthill. These are the times when I know all the right things to tell myself, but I still can't shake off the feeling of being inefective. I need to go pray!
Oh, Tom knows Jonathan? Weird again. I have never met him but we are good friends with Heather. My sister is serving in the wedding and she needs to wear pink. Um, yes, that is a bad thing! She has RED hair! Gorgeous, vibrant, light-up a room red hair, but NOT complemented by pink! Heather called it mauve, but it's just PINK. Which, I love, but then I'm not a brilliant, light-up-a-room person either. Anyhow, way off the subject.
If you ever get tired, or run down, or feel overwhelmed with all your responsibilites, fall down on your knees and thank the Lord with every fiber of your being for giving you such an opportunity to used of Him in such a fashion! Change your world my friend!
Ag
Funny about the pink, Ag. I immediately started thinking about Anne with an "e," {now THAT comma/quotation mark combo looks really weird, however proper it may be} trying to remember what her attitude toward pink was.
Yeah, it's amazing, that here I am, little me, here in Poland, halfway around the world, teaching English, little me, in a private school, here in Poland... But I find it intriguing how much, no matter where you are or what you're doing, life just gets to be, well, sort of "daily." Ya know? And while I used to pine for the team feeling and novelty that would surely accompany a situation like this, I find that now when I've got it all I miss what I'm missing out on at home. It was a good reminder, what someone told me, that I must remember that when I do return home, then I'll miss Poland. Aren't we a curious bundle of longings? "Wherever you are, be all there..." So I try. I really believe that if we can't learn to "be all there" in the situation at hand, then we'll never "be all there" in the next situation either.
Crystal
You know, I've been thinking alot lately about unsatisfied longings. I think no matter where we go, or what we do, there is going to be a sense of unfulfillment. This life, this world, can not offer us ultimate fulfillment! It cannot even begin to scratch the surface!
If indeed, all our dreams came true, and everything was as we always desire it to be, if we found "perfection", than what would keep us longing for a better place?
I don't think I will ever be completely satisfied on this earth because I was not MADE to be completely satisfied here! All the great and wonderful things, all the warm feeling of contentment and satisfaction that appear at times are only a small taste, and barely that, of what is to come.
If we had no disappointments, if we had no trials, if life were a bed of roses and our dreams handed to us on a silver platter, would we truly long for Heaven?
Ag
I just sang that song with your Mountain Anthem Boys!
Tom
Oh did you! A funny thing with that song. I heard them sing it countless times before I ever realized what they were singing. I just didn't think about it, until one day, SMACK! I was blown away with those words. But it's so true!
I keep thinking of all these songs in relation to Marty. This is going to change his life in a way dramatically! And some of the changes are going to be extremely difficult! Man I miss them. He is home now, by the way. They are ALWAYS around! And you don't think about it or truly appreciate it until they are not there!
But isn't that the way we are? We don't appreciate the people we love the most until they are gone. We don't honor them until they die. Like Menno, have you met him? I am so afraid he is going to die soon. I cannot bear the thought. It would be much harder on me than losing any of my grandparents. Menno is so incredibly precious to me! I think when he dies, my Mountain Anthem days are over. I don't think I could do it anymore, due to alot of things. Oh Blah! I am getting all emotional and melancholy. Ridiculous! I still have him! I need to celebrate his life, not mourn his passing!
Ag
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