LIFE

Whenever I see today's heading emblazened upon some background, I always get confused if it's "Life" the boardgame or "Life" the cereal. Some may say that by eating life, you may prolong your own. After all, Mikey likes it, and it can be a good source of fiber. the boardgame doesn't do much, other than let your mind wander about how great or horrible your life could be just by rolling dice.

If that's what it comes down to, I'll choose the cereal.

I have to come to terms that the past six months have been difficult. I told my wife last night, however, that she was worth all the "crap" I've had to go through. It might sound like a backhanded compliment, but it's not. She's worth all of the struggle, and at times has been the only solace for me.

I get caught up in too many weird emotions in times like these. Confusion mostly, but others are prevalent too.

On the whole, I must admit that my life is good right now. Given the recent catastrophic events dealing with storms the size of Kazakhstan that are hitting the Gulf region, my inclination to complain about anything has been diminished.

On the bright side, good things are happening. I landed a research assistantship with a firm doing a social impact assessment on a mining company that wants to mine some copper about an hour east of Phoenix...well, an hour and a half. An hour out of Phoenix is barely Apache Junction.

And another interesting thing has happened. I think...well, no, I'm pretty sure that I'm starting to reconcile with an old friend. I wouldn't say we had a sordid past, just a spotted one maybe that, in effect, was a gross display of my over-emotion. I don't know...it's kind of hard to discuss because we're both married now, and she has a daughter, so it's almost easier to spare the details. Long story short, she did something that angered me, and as soon as I had flown back to Phoenix from SLC, where I had last seen her, I dropped her a scathing e-mail. I didn't care that it was scathing, because I didn't think she cared about me, period. She deleted it, and never responded. And yet it took two and a half years for us to communicate again.

But as I said to her, a lot can change a person in a couple of years, and that phrase seems to be true for the both of us.

Oh, I guess I should recount the reconciliation: My wife and I were talking about how I needed to apologize for my part, and forgive her, regardless of how she felt, for this burden to be lifted off my chest. I got a knot in my throat because I knew I would need to try and communicate with her to let her know this. Thanks to internet technology, I turned on my instant messenger and there she was...logged on for the first time in over two years...at least the first time I had seen her. And you can assume the rest of the story. We chatted briefly about what's going on in our lives, and apologized. And truth be told, I do feel better.

I don't think it was a coincidence that she was online. I think it goes to show how involved God can be in our lives if we want him to be.

I'm grateful to have mended that wound.

In reference to my wife's post yesterday on her site, I wanted to write something. I was walking out of a class last night with a classmate, when he pointed a rather stunning looking girl out to me and another classmate...

Mike: Whoa, she is HOT!
Rachel (a lesbian): Dang. I love ASU for all the wrong reasons.
(the two look at me)
John: What? They're a dime a dozen here.
Rachel: Are you saying that because you're married?
John: No, I'm saying it because it's true.
Mike: And because he's married. But that's honorable...his wife must be so sexy that he doesn't need any other girls to look at.
John: Well, that's exactly the truth.

My wife is sexy, no matter what she thinks when walking on ASU's campus. End of story.