Columbus Night

Another late night for me...
I was standing outside my apartment, staring out at the parking lot listening to the sounds of the city as the wind blows in crisp, cold fall air and my thoughts begin to drift. It's another cold lonely night in a city of nearly 800,000. I live next to people who barely speak my language and prefer to be left alone. Some nights I feel like I'm living in another country. I don't mind the diversity and actually enjoy the cultural differences. It's tough sometimes though.

You know, I sound as if I am whining. I don't mean for that. I guess it goes hand and hand with the lack of sleep, changing weather, and this nagging cold. I've just been really engrossed in thought lately so it's to be expected I suppose. It's nights like this though that I can't help but think back to my short stay in Alaska. There is nothing more powerful than the memory of a time you wished never ended. It's a quick fix to pull myself out of whatever perpetual funk I'm in. It brings warmth to my heart and a smile to my face. I think of how I planned for the trip or the lack of! I think about how all the pieces seemed to fall together. I think about how this time last year I could have only imagined such a thing. I think about the glaciers, the mountains...the beer. I think about how fortunate I am to have visited such a beautiful place and met such wonderful people.

And just like that I feel an ease on my mind...for this evening at least.