Lights and Sounds.

Think about the times you've sat around a fire with a group of friends and family. There comes a time while everyone is gathered around the flames that we are captivated by our thoughts. We can re-live our past or plan our future in a matter of moments, and we begin to redefine our lives. For me, it's always my time to say "From now on..." and I convince myself that I'm fully capable of being genuine again, and that finally - for the last time, my life will go in the direction it was meant to. Last week, however, may have been the first time I didn't think about those things. Not because I feel I'm where I should be, but because I was more interested in what was going through everyone else's minds.

Joel's dad was visiting us, and we invited Dylan, Evan, Abby and Cori over for some of Bill's famous BBQ. With such a plethora of musical talent, it was only a matter of minutes before the instruments were broken out. It's times like that when I don't have a problem feeling inferior on the guitar. As we sat around the fire pit and listened, I looked at the faces of everyone around me. Ya know those times when you catch someone just staring at the same spot for an unusually long period of time? That time when you can speak an entire paragraph directly into their ear, and it's a matter of seconds before they snap out of it and realize they're not by themselves? It was as if the music and fire display were a charmer and we were all mesmerized snakes. With full stomachs and good music, the focused faces were occasionally interrupted by laughing directed towards the dogs wrestling in the yard, and unexpected sparks popping out of the fire. We wrapped up the night with some hugs and "see yuens" and it was once again back down to four plus Bill.

This night was much needed for me. I was able to put myself aside and realize that some people have so much more on their plate than I do, and how these guys are able to keep their sanity is beside me. It's a blessing to work where I do and, for two years in a row, have people who actually care about us as our employers. Don't worry Juneau, I haven't forgotten about you either.