DEDICATING THIS YEAR TO THE MEMORY OF MY GRANDFATHER STANLEY H. CROW &
THE ENDURING SPIRIT OF MY GRANDFATHER
FREDERICK O. LANPHEAR

To Be of Use

The people I love the best
jump into work head first
without dallying in the shallows
and swim off with sure strokes almost out of sight.
They seem to become natives of that element,
the black sleek heads of seals
bouncing like half submerged balls.
I love people who harness themselves, an ox to a heavy cart,
who pull like water buffalo, with massive patience,
who strain in the mud and the muck to move things forward,
who do what has to be done, again and again.
I want to be with people who submerge
in the task, who go into the fields to harvest
and work in a row and pass the bags along,
who stand in the line and haul in their places,
who are not parlor generals and field deserters
but move in a common rhythm
when the food must come in or the fire be put out.
The work of the world is common as mud.
Botched, it smears the hands, crumbles to dust.
But the thing worth doing well done
has a shape that satisfies, clean and evident.
Greek amphoras for wine or oil,
Hopi vases that held corn, are put in museums
but you know they were made to be used.
The pitcher cries for water to carry
and a person for work that is real.
~ Marge Piercy ~


Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Saying goodbye, but not forever!






As I woke up today, on the last official full day of my stay here in beautiful Molde, I began to think about all the things I have done, all the INCREDIBLE people who have entered my life, and the reality that I now know I have the strength to be away from home. I know that no matter where I am, I will find new people to call family, new people to call friends, and my family and friends back home will always be there for me! I have been blessed beyond belief here, with everything. As I want to write and share about all the amazing things I have done in these last few weeks, my heart begins hurt, I LOVE so many here and saying goodbye has been and will be extremely hard. My friends have been more then supportive of my last days here. They have taken me on road trips, boat trips, cabin trips, always wanting to hangout, swim, dance, party, and even throw me a SURPRISE PARTY!!!! I have literally not slept more then 5 hours in one night for the past 2 weeks because I have been doing so many incredible things with my friends! and I honestly cannot thank them enough for this year. I have talked about all the things I have learned about myself here, I have told you about my feelings about leaving, my feelings about school, life in Molde and ALL about my year in depth, but the one thing I cant write enough about is the people! When I first came to Norway I was told norwegians were very shy, and timid about meeting new people. Well I am here to say the COMPLETE opposite. From day one here in Molde, I have been welcomed into open arms by (to say so many is an understatement...) and the only thing I can say is thank you to all of them for that. Because without even knowing that I was a loving, sensitive person, people just knew that about me, and welcomed me with such warmth. It was the best way to start a life here. The tears are pouring down my face as I write this, peoples names running through my head, hugs, kisses, smiles and laughs from them, all I will miss with an incredible amount. But as the pain tries to eat me away, I have to use that strength that I first gained while on my journey over here. I know that I will see these people again, I know I will find those precious moments with them again, and I know my life will be amazing, because THEY have given me the all time confidence to travel and meet new friends all over the world! A big part of my heart stays here in Molde, and I am more then glad that it is staying here, because it will bring me back for visits and hopefully bring some of Molde to visit me! I have to say it one more time, I have been blessed beyond anything that I could have ever imagined. Tusen tusen TUSEN TAKK Molde!!! <3 <3 <3
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