This type of journaling has affected the way I travel and the way I interact with the world around me. I find life to be more interesting, in a general way, than I used to. This Christmas marks the first time in four visits that I have found the city of Tucson and it’s desert landscape to be a beautiful place. I am looking for the beauty, God’s beauty, and I am finding it.
If I have gone shopping with family on the day after Christmas before, I certainly do not remember doing it. I am an uncle, and a brother, and today both my siblings and my niece and nephews wanted to relieve themselves of the burden that having extra cash can sometimes bring. I went along to go along; to be with them and to see what they see. By the end of the day I had purchased the most items of anyone in my family. 8 months in Albania brought to light some holes in my preparation, especially when it comes to durable, compact clothing. There are some conveniences I would rather not return to the field without.
I had the very best companions anyone could ask for. Nate and Luke, my two younger nephews, wanted to cash in their Target gift-cards. We went into the store with thin, white plastic rectangles and emerged with a plastic, rubber-tipped foam dart firing sniper rifle, and a Lego tower complete with pterodactyl and hunting net.
A few hours later my brother, his fiance and I took our niece Kate to one of Tucson’s malls; a place called Tucson Mall. Brandon and I spent our time going from store to store, while Alexis and Kate were off doing much the same. I was surprised and delighted to find that every store clerk I spoke with seemed genuinely happy to tell me how their Christmas holiday had gone. One woman taught me to say “namastē,” which is the Hindi equivalent for goodbye. She told me that it actually means “I bow to you.”
People thrive when they are respected; when they feel listened to. Love is essential to life.
albaniacalling 