Sunday, June 7, 2009

interstate 435.

I was running around the other day doing some errands and the craziest thing happened. I was on one side of town and needed to get to the other side, so what did I do? I hopped on the 435 and was there in no time. What's the big deal, right? I'll tell ya! I don't drive on the freeway as an everyday means of transportation. In fact, altogether in the last year this was the 4th time I've driven on the freeway. For one, there are like 3 freeways here compared to the one in Idaho. So I've been at risk of getting on one and taking myself to who knows where. Two, these freeways don't just go in one straight line like I-84. They're all big and there are all these things you have to do to insure that you're not accidentally getting on one freeway from another. It's all a big t0-do really. So you can see why I stick to surface streets, right? But not the other day. The other day I took the dive. 

After I was done with my errands, almost back to my house I realized that what I did was pretty major. Part of my not going on the freeway I think was in part of little bit of me just rejecting all things Kansas. It sounds silly, I'm sure, that a roadway system is infiltrating my thoughts this much. But just deciding to brave the freeway and be a real kansan felt like I was starting to get over all that silly stuff.  And mainly what I realized is that I'm happy here for right now and I think I've been happy for a while. It has just been hard to embrace that because how do you embrace happiness here while still remembering it there? Do you understand what I mean? Maybe it's a silly train of though since I should just be happy about being happy. There is just something inside of me that is afraid of forgetting Idaho. Because I love Idaho. And I still miss it terribly. I miss my family and my friends and my school. But I like living here. What I really want is for the two to be one, you see? I don't see an issue with that. :) 

This is me on a good day of course. Somedays are not good days and I want to go back to Idaho and forget about this whole thing. But right now I am thankful for this frame of mind. I've loved having Aimee home for the summer. It's so nice to have a friend! That is our next step - finding friends. I want to say thank you to those of you who read this and have said a prayer for Ryan and I as we've struggled to find our place here. Please continue to pray for us because we're not done yet! 

Hope you're having a wonderful summer. Come visit! 

4 comments:

Ronnie said...

Everyone always says it's the little things that mean the most; it really is! For these good days, I am so happy for you and pray for both of you every day...sometimes more than once :) Couldn't love you more.

Jacque said...

Warms my heart, darlin'. Love ya! And I'm proud of you - now I just need to get on the freeway myself! :)

N said...

You blog?!?! Hahaha!! I have been trying to find people I know and feel like I am the only one who does it! YOU MADE MY DAY LADY!! Looks like you are doing well!!

Calleen Antilla said...

claire... i just read this blog. I do read your blogs. you remind me alot of my self when I was first married. although we lived all by our selves in Minnesota for a year before we lived any where near family. but I want to encourage you! Having grown up in Idaho myself, your heart will always be there. It is a love that does not go away. and maybe when you are older and you have lovely children that grow up and want to go to your college where you and Ryan met and went to school... your heart will be full of happiness once again and you will realize your love for Idaho is still there and will never go away. WEll that is my story... my heart is full, my love for Idaho is still there, my kids are there and that makes me happy. I will be sad when Phil and Aimee are not in Idaho but in Kansas with you all, but I will know they are happy, and that will be the most important things.
Enjoy your time, enjoy our new life and mostly hold onto your memories of Idaho. They make you smile!
See you next week!