“You have to put down roots.” The only thing more troubling that she could have said came next: “And if you are going to put down roots somewhere, that means you cannot hold on to roots elsewhere.” Like an arrow aimed straight at my heart, Michal Ruth’s words cut through my ribs to the tender … [Read More]
Living without the Adjectives
Adjectives. Those describing words. The modifiers, classifiers, and identifiers. The words that separate the world into categories. Pretty. Ugly. Black. White. Rich. Poor. Smart. Dumb. Hip. Lame. Good. Bad. Going. Sending. It was my first time attending this camp on the dune-covered beaches of the Oregon Coast. I had heard rumors of it since I … [Read More]
Adventures in Being Homeless
It’s been 8 weeks. Lincoln. Chicago. Atlanta. Amsterdam. Tübingen. Lincoln. Denver. Boise. Portland. Corvallis. Salem. Seattle. Sweet Home. Portland. Never more than a few days at each place, everywhere is my home and nowhere is my home. I am homeless. I am wandering. Now, don’t get me wrong, this wandering is not without purpose. I … [Read More]
Power Naps, Caffeine Shots, and a Search for Rest
The rain drips down the windowpane in this somewhat dingy coffee shop in Corvallis, Oregon. It’s been almost a month since my visit to Germany and since then I have managed to pack all of my belongings into my car and move across the country. June 8th marked the beginning of what will be a … [Read More]
Strangers, Hospitality, and Choosing to Be Uncomfortable – 5/23/13
I’m not sure if I knew what I was signing up for when I said yes to going on another “adventure.” Seven standby flights later, still stuck in Chicago, looking at the floors of Midway and wondering if it was more comfortable if I took an hour of subway travel to sleep at O’Hare… wondering … [Read More]