very, very happily, it is time to pack up and leave. packed up i have already, to leave is tomorrow. it's interesting to pack up with the speed and sure thorough efficiency of routine, with the perspective of a short vacation added to the exhiliration and depression of leaving the intimate, laughing, safe STEP community into the bigger, bustling, blurring depths of college life. i'm not really that eager to get lost in the Houghton crowds again.

but we have no control over the seasons; rather, they sweep us along, and we are caught up once more from our happy eddies into the currents, with no inclination if we will ever find place to eddy out again and rest. it is good that there is joy in challenge and above fear as well as joy in safety and rest.

the next challenge: Highlander. 12 days in the woods with a select brave few from this year's incoming freshman class. it'll be good to work with college age kids for a change; one of my friend's little brothers is in my group, and the others look promising too. we'll go rock climbing, play around on the ropes course, do all sorts of challenges, play games, go swimming, hike, hike, hike, canoe, canoe, canoe, and probably talk a lot too. and sing super-fun songs.

and afterwards, when it's college time...i'll have fun freshmen to sit with in the cafeteria, too! because when you're an old senior, no one loves you anymore...