To Miss New Orleans

Hey friends.

So far this month, I've been making it a practice to journal daily about something for which I'm thankful.  (Super original activity for the month of November, right?) My list so far includes mostly people (and coffee), but I am also thankful for New Orleans.

Last year wasn't exactly the easiest year of my life. I've neglected to address some of the tougher parts here, if for nothing else than I am most comfortable being an outwardly optimistic person. (And hey, if I can't control much else in life, at least I can control what goes on my blog!) But despite the rough patches, I wouldn't trade my year in New Orleans (or my year in Nashville) for anything. And anyway, sometimes challenges are good (despite how much I might doubt that when they're happening).

It's been a big few days of processing. I don't know that I realized how much processing I had (or have) left to do...but I s'pose this is that gradual transition process they kept telling us about at Ghost Ranch. Last week I put one of my coats for the first time this season, and wouldn't you know it, in the pocket I found a plastic straw I'd caught at a Mardi Gras parade last year. This past weekend I helped paint a house with a few fellow CTS students, one of whom was a YAV last year here in Atlanta. Living in an apartment by myself, I've had more time to spend just with my thoughts. Any of these things and a host of others could've spurred the turning of my mental wheels, I suppose. But this is a good thing. In a kind of unexpected wave, I am making peace with the difficult parts of last year, and wholeheartedly embracing my fond memories of the good ones. I'm not so bold as to claim that I'm all of a sudden at the end of the transition line graph (yes, there is one). But it's progress.

My friend Lauren, who was my roommate and fellow YAV in New Orleans and is an absolutely lovely human being, also happens to be an exceptionally talented artist. She drew this picture and called it "To Miss New Orleans."

Click here to see more of Lauren's kick awesome art.
(You can even buy prints, phone cases and other goodies!)

So thank you, New Orleans, for helping me figure out who I am and who I am becoming (or maybe at least giving me the space freedom to figure it out for myself).

In New Orleans, you can be whoever the heck you want to be. You can wear ridiculous homemade tutus on Halloween and joyously jump in to the impromptu dance party that starts in the middle of the street (you know, hypothetically). You can walk through the Quarter dressed head-to-toe like a pirate on a random day in December (Not guilty. But I am most definitely a witness). You can see a musical about zombies produced in an old abandoned church (yes, it was as awesome as it sounds). You can be as creative, as out-there, as weird as your heart desires, and New Orleans? She'll put a daiquiri in your hand, some beads around your neck, and welcome you home with an enthusiastic "Who dat?!" (If you're not into daiquiris I'm sure she'd substitute a good cafe au lait.) New Orleans is still broken in a lot of ways, but she is also beautiful and full to the brim with characters of every sort, and the stories that go along with them. If you haven't met her yet, you should.

Love,
Allison.

PS - It also happens to be the YAV program's "Social Media Blitz Week," during which we harass (I mean uh...encourage) our friends (and acquaintances, and pretty much anyone who will listen) to check out the YAV life. And because I'm such a huge fan of this program, here's a slightly obligatory plug for it (admittedly copied and pasted, if that wasn't obvious...). Seriously though. If you're looking for a year that will change your life, check it out.

Do you want to spend a year putting your faith in action and serving in mission? Are you interested in a career in non-profit work, humanitarian aid, or church service? Then apply to be a Young Adult Volunteer! The Presbyterian YAV program is accepting applications now –www.pcusa.org/yav