Walter

In the south, it is very common for funerals to have a automobile procession. There is a caravan of cars that drive from the funeral home to the cemetery, or wherever they go after the funeral home, I'm not really sure. There is a police or security escort and a big line of cars. Out of respect all cars, in both directions pull over, similar to if an ambulance or police car were coming. This is polite, but can be quite frustrating for someone driving somewhere that doesn't want to take a 4 minute break. Ignoring the courtesy pull over can result in offending the funeral goers, so much as to make them say mean things out of their window to you.

A few days ago a friend of mine from the west coast got to witness this southern custom. He was equally confused and frustrated as a was the first time I saw this. Maybe this speaks of non-southern culture, we're not nice or in too much of a hurry, so much that we can't pay homage to someone's life passing away or the pain of their friends and family. I don't buy it and northerners and west coasters shouldn't be condemned for not tolerating this.

When I moved to Nashville I asked a co-worker what was the deal with this tradition. Walter was an old salty black guy in his late fifties. Without much thought, he answered, (think in a raspy southern voice with a gold tooth) "Cause we have so many friends."

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The holidays are great. People get together. Enjoy each other, eat, drink, get and give gifts. After Thanksgiving, Christmas and Chanukah it is easy to be over all the holiday cheer. I usually am by the middle of December. I am usually refueled by December 31. As much or more than Thanksgiving of Christmas, New Years is when I like to think about what I am thankful for.  

One of my best friends came to spend the last week with me and my family in Tennessee. It was a lot of fun, arguably too much. I know Bailey thought it was too much each time we came home at 4 in the morning. I've said this before, but I'll say it again. I have the best friends in the world. 

It has been a blessing to grow up and change with my friends. This is apparent when encounters and reunitings are spread out to longer periods of time. Sometime as friends grow there are differences that are large enough to end the friendship, or at least give the mutual feeling that once you were much closer, but now are much different. Thankfully, it also works out that the integral parts which made your friendship significant are still there. These life long friendships are so special and there is nothing better than that feeling of timeless laughter and joy between friends. Growth is inevitable. Well maybe not, what I mean is that I don't want to be friends with and I personally wouldn't want for myself to not grow.

Certain things stay the same and keep that reminiscent nostalgia, but it's also special to recognize how your friends have grown. It also causes me to look how I've changed over the years. As this year ends and a new one begins, I have the goal of balancing growth and change with remaining the same as I always have been. And to Walter, Tennesseans may have so many friends, but us boys from Southern Oregon stay strong. 

Finals

I made it. Finals are almost done and the first semester is about to end. My attempts to blog over the last few months have been pretty pathetic. Sorry, especially for the 1 to 2 people that will ever read this. There have almost been lots of blog posts. Like I said, almost. A handful of times Bailey and I have done something and afterwards deemed it as worthy of blogging. Like the burbs. The burbs are wild -in a weird depressing way. But sometimes I worry my life is destined for the suburbs. The convenience, safety and artificial community they offer are desirable for that family life. And I am a family man. We'll see how long it takes.

More concerning than the burbs is the dirty south! I'm not sure if I will ever get out of Tennessee. The problem is that I am pretty conflicted. I love southern oregon so much, but I am kinda liking Tennessee. Maybe I could stay a while longer..........

Regardless of where we live, Bailey and I are fittin' to have a baby!!!!!!!!! I am so excited to meet this little girl! It is crazy to feel her move around inside of Bailey's belly. I have so many questions about what she is going to be like. The biggest decision we have right now is what to do about vaccinations. Aghhhh, these are tough, do I be a good hippie or a good yuppie? Everybody I talk to gives me different opinions and the books that I am ready are just another dudes opinions...........

The students have just been dismissed and now I have their finals to grade. One more day and it's Christmas break!