Hola,
Over the past eleven days I have been overwhelmed with the kind of love & hospitality that can only be found when in the presence of precious family & friends. As you all are aware, I spent Sep. 30 – Oct. 2 with my cousin. The time spent hanging out & playing with baby Audrey was so sweet. The innocence of a child is such a beautiful thing. I cannot imagine the weight of the responsibility in rearing a child. Having to find the right balance between equipping them to be independent & sheltering them from the ugliness that exists in our world is such a difficult task. Being able to disconnect & vicariously indulge in the innocence of my baby cousin’s world was a much needed retreat from the norm for me.
My night in the tipi was fun! It was pretty much just camping. I had a great time learning about Native American culture and going stargazing. The morning after the tipi experience, I was able to check out the Grand Canyon which was amazing. I had a hard time grasping the sheer immensity of the canyon.
From Oct. 4 through today (Oct. 10) I have been staying with my family in Newbury Park, California. The days spent here are always bliss. I was telling Drew & Taylor a while back that explaining my family gets confusing in a hurry. To simplify, my father found his birth mother in ’08. The people who I’m staying with are the youngest of his three sisters & her family. Being told you have a bunch of extended family that want to meet you can be kind of an intimidating thing as a teenager. You’re worried about getting along, and anxious about what kind of people they may be. However, my father’s reconnecting with his mother has been one of the most treasured blessings in my life. My aunt, uncle, & their kids have always had a special place in my heart, and it had been too long since I had visited them. I saw this sabbatical as a chance to catch up & get some much need quality time in. And that is just what I did. I was able to cheer at several soccer games over the weekend, enjoy the beautiful nature in Malibu & Thousand Oaks, and simply hang out. Oh, and I visited some neat record stores too. I am so happy I was able to make this trip happen. Despite being a little bummed about leaving, I feel so full of love & hope leaving this place. Plus, Austin City Limits Festival is this weekend so there’s no time to be blue! I’ll catch y’all up on my adventures soon.
Al