Flyover States

I hate flying. Weird, I know, but I get super sick on takeoff and landing and freak myself out being in airports by myself. But right about now, flying is sounding real good.

Over the past week, I have been in a car for approximately 32 hours. That's not counting cab rides or subways that took me to and from my various destinations around New York City. I pity my family who all have to drive another 16+ hours to get back to the great state of Minnesota starting on Thursday.

To make the trip bearable, there have been a variety of solutions.

1. Family games. These range anywhere from talking in accents and tickle wars to keeping track of state license plates. So far on the trip, we've seen all but 15 (two of which are Alaska and Hawaii, so really we've seen all but 13).

2. Lots of reading. I've been rereading the Harry Potter series and managed to burn my way through Half-Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows since leaving home. Unfortunately, I read the last few chapters of the latter last night which completes the series. So now I'm bookless for the last leg of the journey.

3. Movies! I've actually only watched one, but Annika used the computer to entertain herself quite a few times. Ocean's 11 was a welcome break from the road.

4. Writing... Or editing, more aptly. The Legend of Harthore is slowly coming along, but I really need to sit my butt down and actually finish it.

5. Naps!!! I can't tell you how many times I've fallen asleep on this trip - on trains, in our car - in a variety of different positions which have left me in various levels of soreness, and on three (soon to be four) different beds.

That all being said, complaining is not entirely the point of this post. Entitled "Flyover States", I have to admit that flying over Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York is sounding better and better. But I don't believe God created them as flyover states, so I decided to use this post to find the reasons why each state is worth driving through - even if it does force me to spend about as much time in the car as out of it.

1. Minnesota. Which is home, obviously, so there's that. More to the point, there are 10,000+ lakes. Which seems normal but is actually insane. MN has more "coastline" than any other state.

2. Wisconsin. The state of the cheese heads! But in all seriousness, three of my good friends from high school live in Wisconsin (Claire, Julian, and Mick). Plus they do have some gorgeous cliff formations and awesome biking trails.

3. Illinois. Corn and farmers! And my cousins, who are incredible. Plus there's Chicago where I had my audition for The Voice. Basically, Illinois has a bunch of awesome memories.

4. Indiana. Which holds Notre Dame, the school that I literally think half of the Trinity Class of 2013 applied to. Plus there's Trinity School at Green Lawn, sister school number 1.

5. Ohio. This one was hard because I know little to nothing about OH. But driving through it was pretty gorgeous with all of the hills and trees.

6. Pennsylvania. Which (obviously) is the home of Grove City!! I can't wait to get started with whatever crazy adventure God has planned for me there - whether it lasts 4 years or 1!

7. New Jersey. Again, a harder one. But my friends aunt and uncle live there, and they were super charitable to host Bessie the Van for three days while we were in New York City!

8. New York. While the city is totally insane, polluted, and - yes - at moments terrifying, it really grew on me over the course of our time there. Yes, stairs to a fifth floor apartment were awful. And yes, the subway was creepy. And no, I don't know if I'll be visiting Staten Island any time soon after a creepy encounter with a homeless man. But Broadway is incredible, and the hustle and bustle keeps up a fast pace that I just love. Outdoor cafes are incredible, Central Park is gorgeous, and the way the city lights up at night is riveting. 

NYC is (in my humble opinion) the true cultural center of the United States. And while that's terrifying in some ways, seeing two headlining Broadway stars who are truly incredible, strong, Christian men (Corey Cott and Zachary Levi - and that's not just from the tabloids) is inspiring. I want to make a difference like that - using gifts that God has given me, and just loving people around me and being clear about my faith.

That all to say that Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York are hardly flyover. Each of them has a lot of worth, and each of the people there needs the love of Christ shown to them. Through me, my friends, or a few guys on Broadway.

The Art of Dance

Dance. Particularly swing - definitely ballroom. There's something exhilarating and contagiously joyful about twirling around a dance floor, bumping into all of the other pairs, laughing when you slip, and trying to hold a conversation even though it's nearly impossible over the din of the music, clicking shoes, and other voices all around.

I decided recently that I wish I had been born to live in the nineteen-forties. At first I thought it was simply because I love the music and dance of that era (which is certainly still true), but as I've been considering it, there are so many reasons besides that.

1) The fashion. 

Because, honestly, modest is hottest. And somehow the forties ladies manage to look flirty, gorgeous, modest, and put together in something as simple as a skirt and blouse. Plus, there's those high waisted shorts which (though they might not be super popular) are darling and super slimming if you know how to wear them. That, combined with the hairstyles and shoes, is just perfectly classy. If I could wear something like that every day and not get odd looks from people, I would do it.

2) The films.

Because the 1940s were the years of the classics. The two movies that are still considered the most classic today came out in the 40s - Casablanca and Citizen Kane - both of which are excellent. On top of that, there's It's a Wonderful Life, Meet Me in St. Louis, Yankee Doodle Dandy, Dumbo, and Oliver Twist. I hope at least some of these movies are familiar, but if they're not, make an effort to see at least one or two of them sometime in the next few months.

3) The war.

Because (although it might seem like a strange reason), I really adore the idea of being the girl waiting for her soldier to come home. Military history is so inspiring and intriguing - and none more to me than World War II.

4) The romance.

Because dating is overrated. This probably comes (in many ways) from the part of me that is a hopeless romantic at heart, but I want something like that. I want to be so in love that months and years apart can't come between us. And (I repeat) dating is overrated. It's been so trivialized, that it seems like it's not even a step toward marriage. I'd much rather be courted.

5) The dance.

Because this is where my heart and soul lies when it comes to the nineteen forties. Enough of this modern "moshing" and "grinding". I could go swing dancing every night and not get sick of it. And I like it for a few reasons. Firstly, swing dance is fun. Just, purely, innocently fun. Secondly, it's social. You go dancing with friends. You talk (mostly when you're catching your breath), you laugh (often for no real reason), and you dance with a bunch of different partners (even some you've never met before). And thirdly, swing dance is good for anyone. The basic step is so easy, literally anyone can do it. But then, once you've been dancing for a while, you can be more advanced. In no time, you can do spins and lifts that you wouldn't have been able to dream of the day you started. I've been dancing - I mean, really dancing - for about a year, and I can already do some crazy stuff if my partner knows what he's doing, too.

So, yes, I wish I was a forties girl. But I also know that God gave me a twenty-first century life for a very good reason. I might never know what that reason is, but I'm excited to keep dancing through life to figure it out. And who knows? Maybe the nineteen forties are making a comeback.

Clarity

Toward Clarity - the journey of two friends separated by hundreds of miles but held together through faith and perseverance. As everything changes, we seek the calm in the storm provided by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. - 1 Corinthians 13:12