20 Things I learned on Band Tour

1. "Flying to Neverland" can get you into trouble.
2. I'm not very good at following, although sometimes it's just easier to let someone else lead.
3. Mr. Lyon doesn't have it in him to get anyone back.
4. I'm not very good at getting to bed on time.
5. Social circumstances change constantly, and you have to adjust.
6. Buses suck all conversational ability out of me.
7. Grand plans don't always pan out.
8. The swings at amusement parks aren't all that bad.
9. Princesses are hard to find. (about as hard as the metaphorical prince)
10. I have the ability to use a purse. Don't mock me.
11. Don't give your friend both mustard and popcorn on the same night.
12. Indiana Jones is the best ride. Ever.
13. Don't pretend to be mad. It never turns out funny and it makes you look lame.
14. Pillow fights are about the greatest thing.
15. Don't ever hide in the closet. People get hurt that way.
16. Mr. Lyon is a soccer superstar.
17. Sam is a beachbum bird afraid of the water.
18. Being patient with people is not the same as being kind.
19. BTR's are overrated. Band tour went great without them.
20. Life is beautiful when you have a friend living it with you.

Sorry about all the vague descriptions and weird lists...I'm just not good at being specific about long periods of time, especially when they are so packed of awesome experiences. Anyway, tomorrow we start school again, (on an A day of all things) and I know that I will be thinking back on things that happened this Spring Break for years to come. Life is beautiful. And when bad things happen it can be beautifully tragic or tragically beautiful; it's all a matter of perspective.

BAND TOUR

I will not try to give a minute by minute or even day by day breakdown of what went on on band tour. Let it suffice that friendships were strengthened, things were learned, and fun was had! It was such a beautiful time, and I think that, unless some other crazy awesome things happen, this was kind of the climax of my senior year. Socially, anyway. I am REALLY going to miss all this. Good thing I'm making time to drink it all in. As soon as summer hits, though, I'll be an adult. And I'll have to act like it.

Waiting for...what?

I was working on some homework, and needed to use a link. It was taking a while to connect, and kept asking me to "Please wait." This prompted me to think more in depth about something I have mentally touched upon a few times this week.

It's true that we spend most of our lives waiting. Waiting for the bus to arrive, waiting for the school day to be over, waiting to get out of one thing before you can get to the next. However, despite all this forced wait, I've noticed that people don't voluntarily wait for other people as much as I have always believed was a matter of decency. People go on physically without even looking back for those they previously were associating. Some do not even wait for people to finish their sentence before they speak or formulate their own. Why not? What are we failing to do, if anything, when we don't wait for people? What are we choosing to do when we do wait? A few of the origins of the word wait originally meant to be awake, watch, or to guard. Which are we doing?

Just being awake, being aware of who is around us. Waiting on people usually means to serve them, to be there for their every request. Waiting on them hand and foot. Perhaps part of waiting for people is to be aware of their wants, to be ready for their requests, even if we cannot fulfill them. When we don't wait, are we simply expressing our lack of ability to fulfill their requests? Or are we simply refusing to be aware, or awake to, their needs and opinions?

To watch for something often fits our modern interpretation of the word wait. Watching for the completion or the commencement of a certain event. Watch is a very active word mentally, but usually not physically. When you watch for something, that thing usually takes precedence in our minds. Obviously, when you cease even to watch for a person once they have fallen behind, they have no such priority in your thoughts. When they fall behind in conversation or along the trail of cognitive exploration, do we sufficiently watch for their view? Do we put enough effort into watching to see their progression, or do we assume that either our speaking partner is thinking what we are, or they are too far lost or incorrect to help or consider?

How can we possibly be guarding someone when we wait for them? The only real answer I have been able to conjure up is that of guarding one emotionally. By showing that we are aware of their desires and watching where they are physically, emotionally, and cognitively, we provide a figurative place of belonging, or at least of acceptance. Acceptance, I believe, is one of the foremost emotional needs of any normal human being. I am not saying that by choosing not to wait, we destroy feelings of acceptance for anyone. I do believe, however, that this simple act gives a lot more comfort than we may realize. What do we comfort and guard from? Perhaps we guard from the harsh nature of the absolute speed of our world. Who does not feel passed by and caught in a rush of people, places, and responsibilities at one time or another? When we are waited for, it gives us a figurative rock in the rapids, someone we know will not rush away from us, even if the world does.

I am not offended when others don't wait for me. It strengthens independence. However, perhaps we could all wait a little more in thought, speech, and action for those who need the emotionally fortress we may be able to provide. Maybe we could all look out a bit more for those who silently cry out, "Please, wait".

Yay for General Conference

I loved General Conference. I heard what I needed as well as what I wanted. Sometime I'll write some things I learned but I'm tired right now. I wish I could make my compositions work...they are just flawed somehow. I'm really not sure.