so a recap from 2009:
i was in louisiana when 2009 started and i needed that job, that experience. i learned a lot about life and work and myself, but i was only really half-living. 2009 really started for me at the beginning of the summer when i got a job in Oregon. and in order to get there i went on one of the most amazing road trips ever. annie is a champion cat and went on the road trip as well.
its beautiful here and the weather isn't as bad as people make it out to be. eugene is a pretty cool town and an example of that is the movie theater i saw Precious in tonight - it was an old church with amazingly tall ceilings and cool old church touches...for my columbia friends, its a lot like the old Ragtag, shows the same kind of movies too, pretty great all around though. since i've lived here mr. and mrs. wade have been to see me and so has my brother, visitors are fun, AND ALWAYS WELCOME. i also went climbing in town with a friend that lives in salem now, good climbing too - not at all like capen park.
i flew home for christmas and hung out with my mom - a lot, it was good though, she missed me, aaaand i guess i missed her too. i got to go to columbia while i was in town and it was amazing to see my friends and their kids. back in STL i also got to see a couple friends from undergrad who have been busy abroad for the last few years- one teaching and writing in spain and argentina, and the other peace corpin' it up in guatemala. we got to see my grandpa for christmas at his house, which was good. i don't know how much longer he'll be around, and i got to hug him and tell him thank you and that i love him. all in all, the trip was great.
2009 ended with a bang, and i'm thankful for another year and excited to see what 2010 holds for me and the people i love.
