Freak Out

Now that we're coming down to only a few days, I'm starting to get that "freak out" feeling that
  • I'm not going to get everything done!
  • I'm not going to get all my stuff packed into the bags designated/weight limit allowed!
  • I'm going to forget something totally important, like having my mail forwarded!
  • I'm going to get stuck in traffic and miss my plane! (Thursday is a holiday in France)

In all honesty, my apt. is nearly empty. There are still the bags, the last minute cleaning supplies, and a few boxes of stuff that didn't go into more organized boxes earlier. I'm cleaned kitchen to a spit-shine level of perfection, and tomorrow I'll clean the rest behind me and leave permanently.

Yesterday was my "goodbye" day for most everyone from church. Some of the youth group kids took me out to lunch, and then I was also invited to a home for dinner. In a few minutes, I'm headed to dinner at the youth pastor's house, where I will say goodbye to the last few friends from the youth group. Hard stuff.

Funny thing: Yesterday, I was driving home from church and I turned a blind corner; there in the middle of the deserted street was a teenager, who had clearly just hopped off his scooter and was picking his "wedgie." He appeared shocked and embarrassed that I surprised him, coming around that corner. He hopped back on his scooter (riding sidesaddle), and I saw him grimace as he roared away. Apparently, he was having some real trouble. I laughed all the way home.

Comments

Ben Rainey said…
I saw a guy pick his wedgie yesterday with the side step action, then he reached into his back pocket and grabbed a hold and picked away. The whole time he was glancing around to see if anyone was watching.
2:41 PM
Dad said…
Sounds like he had been on that scooter a loooonnngg time.
2:45 PM
Anonymous said…
hello ariel

i'm planning to leave a huge comment, huge like the emptiness we will feel in our hearts when your plane is beyond the atlantic ocean skyline. yes, i'm writing from bordeaux (in english and further in french), one of your numerous home ports where you incredibly took the place that was belonging to you.

first of all, thanks for opening your blog access to me. this is an opportunity for me to testify how i've been blessed with your french letter. how could i imagine asking you this souvenir that it would sting my inner being like that!!! all the emotion came at once.

i've told you, i praise God for knowing such a rich person like you ! you're full of humour, of great anecdotes, of generosity, and of open-mindedness. you've shaped me with what i've learnt from you, and surely your wonderful voice will keep on ringing here, not only in the musical archives, but also in our minds...

ariel, merci pour le cheesecake (ma langue ne veut plus manger quoi que ce soit d'autre maintenant), merci pour les fois ou tu m'as ramenee chez moi le dimanche apres l'Eglise, merci de nous avoir ouvert ton coeur et d'avoir accepte d'entrer dans le notre.

Dieu a vraiment mis en toi des ressources exceptionnelles, et ton appel necessite beaucoup de courage. ici en france, je crois que tu as ete une pionniere dans l'evangelisation des musulmans, et Dieu va t'utiliser puissamment. meme si a bordeaux les echos n'ont pas ete tres favorables, quelque chose va continuer a se developper. il faut peut-etre que nous prenions le relais, et je compte sur tes conseils et ton experience pour nous aider. en tout cas tu demeures dans nos prieres.

profite bien de ta famille, de tes amis, de ton pays! transmets-leur nos salutations cordiales. sache aussi que ton blog est formidable, j'aime beaucoup ta façon d'ecrire, et il faut que tu cherches un editeur pour transformer ces longs articles en delicieux livre dans lequel je me plongerai volontiers. et n'oublie pas aussi que affinitz reste TON blog (tu ne peux pas nous lacher comme ca), donc viens regulierement le lire.

voila, i've finished for today, but please dont forget me. your place remains here. i already miss you so much. it's often when people are missing that we realize their value. anyway i do love you. please answer me soon. take care and God bless. i'm gonna wet God's Hands with my tears now.

your french westindies bordelaise friend : LYNDA
9:09 PM
Ariel Rainey said…
Lynda,

Now you did it! I’m crying all over my computer.

Te dire au revoir hier soir était très difficile, même si je n’avais pas de larmes dans les yeux à ce moment-là. Pendant le trajet chez moi, j’ai prié, en remerciant Dieu que j’ai trouvé des amis formidables. Quand je suis arrivée, je n’aurais jamais imaginé que je trouve une place parmi les jeunes, mais Dieu m’a ouvert les portes (à travers Patrick, ChiChi, toi, et d’autres), et pas seulement celles d’église, mais aussi celles des cœurs des jeunes.

Merci beaucoup pour ton commentaire ici. Ça va me servir comme un rappel, un encouragement, un souvenir, un trésor !

By the way, your English is perfect, I think. Tu maîtrises l’anglais tellement, tu me fais honte avec mon français, hi hi hi.

Comme j’ai dit dans l’autre lettre, je t’aime.
1:43 AM
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