Personal Business

Well, I rarely post on what's going on in my life, I usually try to keep things to topics that might be interesting for someone who doesn't even know me. But today I'm just gonna give everyone an update on what's going on. Mostly, I'm making this post cause I've unsuccessfully tried to explain to my parents what my living arrangements are like. If a picture is worth a thousand words I'm going to be way over my post length...



This first picture is of the converted ice cream parlor that has become our sink.



This next picture is of the sink/ice cream parlor, the ladder to the loft, and our one story fireman's pole.


This is what you see when you walk into our place. On the far right there is a picture of a crazy crazy man with a sword and an awesome mustache.


This is the closest thing we have to a living room.

Anyway, that's the place. I would go take a picture of outside and show that but I'm on the third floor and I'm lazy.

And as for everything else. My ward is okay. I think there are some good people here, I don't know if there are good interesting people yet, I'm holding off on final judgment.

School is going well. I only have 6 credits. I'm trying to work and study for the LSAT with the rest of my time. I don't feel prepared for the LSAT but I'll be taking it in December.

My roommates are good guys but I really miss my living arrangements from last year. I miss my old friends that have moved on. I basically just miss things as they were. I'm trying really hard (albeit unsuccessfully) to hang onto the friends that have remained but that's getting complicated too.

Since my friends have left I've been kind of lonely. I still have lots of friends here--they're just not like the core group of friends that moved on. I might have to upgrade a few friendships to tier 1 status. I don't even know what I'm going to do with this wonderful 3 day weekend, but I'm sure I'll figure out something.

And now for a little introspection. It's really sad watching important people in your life move on. On the one hand you're excited for them to experience new things and learn and grow, but on the other you wish they could just stay with you so things could stay the same forever. I'm really tired of seeing my good friends leave Provo and spread out across the country. I think one good reason to be married by my age is that everyone you know constantly leaves you, but if you're married, your best friend gets to stay by your side wherever you end up.

All this thinking about goodbyes just reminded me of a quotation from a philosophically weak but nevertheless entertaining book called "Illusions," by Richard Bach. The quotation goes something like this:


Don't be dismayed at good-byes.
A farewell is necessary before you can meet again,
And meeting again, after moments or lifetimes,
Is certain for those who are friends.

Many of the people I'm seeing go away were close enough that they felt like family...which actually reminds me of another quotation from that book, but I'm actually gonna have to get up and find the book to get this one right....

Okay, here it is:

The bond that links your true family is not one of blood,
but of respect and joy in each other's life.
Rarely do members of one family grow up under the same roof.

I've always loved that quotation. It makes me think of the wonderful time I've had here in Provo and how my "true family" has grown while I've been here.

This quotation is also meaningful for those who have troubles with their birth family. I think it's really healthy to realize that the true bonds of family are forged through love and respect, not through some accident of birth (although I've been lucky to have my "true family" and my "family by blood" coincide).

Anyway, I've been sentimental enough for the day now. I hope everyone is well. I'm sure things will start looking up around here. They always have in the past. I guess I've just faced a lot of change lately-- some expected and some very unexpected. But, I'm sure I'll eventually come to terms with it all.

I hope everyone has a great day.

With love,
Danny/Dan