A lot has happened since my last meditation.
I was stranded in Indianapolis all weekend after freezing rain covered the roads in a blanket of ice. I watched a Ford Mustang spin out of control and slam into a median, whereupon an SUV, which was following, banged into the Mustang's passenger door. I was behind both vehicles and narrowly missed the whole mess. My GPS was lit up with wrecks all over the area. It took over an hour to get from the south side of Indy to the north side, where I slept on a friend's surprisingly comfortable fold out bed. Props to Kevin for his hospitality. On Saturday the weather didn't let up much so we went to a breakfast joint and I ordered the Mexican omelet. Deeeeelish. Props to The Roost in Indy for knowing how to do it right. The whole reason I went to Indy was to watch Star Wars with some old college friends, so props, also, to Tim and Sarah. Props all around.
Super mega bonus props to Kevin for hooking me up with a cheap flight to Hawaii. Yes, I'm running off to the South Pacific to get away from ice storms and out of control Mustangs. It's a quick trip (I'll be back in time for Christmas) so I don't plan to take my laptop with me, which means this might be my last meditation (unless I can get one out on Christmas Eve, if the jet lag doesn't kill me). If this is the last meditation of 2016, then I'd consider it a fitting end to this first year of Ironic Advent. We've spent a lot of time kicking up dust, chewing on roots, looking for I don't know what. I've puked up a lot of weaknesses on here. It's been exhausting. And I'm still battling the cold I got from all the 1am writing, so I'm alright with this pilgrimage ending in Honolulu, even if it is the least Advent-ish place on Earth.
I feel satisfied. It's good I did it. And I appreciate all those who spent time with my words and shared Advent with me from a distance. I was in over my head from the start, but I've learned a thing or two about swimming in the deep end. This blog isn't going anywhere, and I may still write a little something for Christmas Eve, or even Christmas. Could be I show up here for Lent. Anyways (or anyway as Joe Martyn Ricke says), I want to give you some Ironic Advent reminders. Here they are:
1. take naps
2. go on walks
3. go on walks and take naps in strange places when the weather gets warmer (or if you visit Hawaii)
4. don't buy new TVs just because they're cheap
5. live like an Unmercenary Saint
6. this planet is enemy occupied territory
7. people need rhythm and stillness
8. change usually happens slowly
9. Advent is a good time to cuss
10. read poetry
11. you can't fix a broken heart with stuff or distractions
12. say yes when you mean yes
12. say no when you mean no
14. maybe learn how to be healthily and helpfully dependent
15. go read The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Thanks for reading, pilgrim. I would leave you with a Thoreau quote but I've got to get some sleep. So I'll just say this: as long as there are pilgrims, there will be pilgrimages. Take a nap, chew on some roots, and read a poem. See what comes from it, maybe you'll learn some good advice you can send my way, or maybe you'll hear a new calling, or maybe you'll learn how to relax (that's a real art). As for me, I'm heading to bed and dreaming of women in hula skirts. Aloha.
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