Life These Last Weeks, as told through a list.

Dear Arizona,

So, I’ve been slacking on the blog. I know. Honestly, though, it’s just because SO MUCH has been happening and I try to keep up with it all, and then more happens and I get distracted, and it’s just like, a serious circle of events. But, now- on a Saturday afternoon- I am going to do my best to buckle down and write you this fantastic list of things. Although, I’ve changed it a bit so bare with me. Now, as promised:

A List of Awesome Things Life Has Dealt Me Lately, by E. Horton:

1. Bus rides that are clean an the drivers are friendly. Where, after midnight on the weekend,the entire bus breaks out into song. (With A Little Help From My Friends- Beatles.) Or, where I meet people solely based on my Little Mermaid backpack; always a good thing.
   

2. Little shops in Downtown Oly where I get awesome necklaces (see below) or sweaters for $1.99. Also note: pizza shop covered in posters or a quaint, vegan bakery.
   
   

3. Sunny days spent lying in the grass. The way the sun feels differently on my face here. What it feels like to spread out on a blanket amongst friends reading books. (Also, getting used to the 50 degrees and going out in just a t-shirt and jeans. Huzzah!)
   

4. The bluff. I went to the bluff for the first time a few weekends ago. I’m not totally sure of the geographic of it, but what I do know is that a) it’s next to the beach, and b) people fall off of it and hurt themselves (but only if you get too close. Dear mom and dad, don’t you worry!). There were many fine points to the bluff, which include but are not limited to: getting lost on our way there and feeling like a character out of Jurassic Park, talking and singing around a fire, learning a great way to urinate in the middle of a forest, lying on the floor of the forest and looking up at the smoke from the fire rising into the (seemingly endless) Evergreen trees, and learning about ferns. Ferns are awesome. Like the pomegranates of plants.

5. Getting packages in the mail.I’ve received my bike, my fridge, and a care-package from my mom. The box my mom sent was awesome. It had home-made cookies, some food items, Halloween decorations, an Ethernet cable (which makes using the internet so much easier and more enjoyable), and other really amazing things that I needed or just wanted. Like pictures that I now have on my board!(Dear Mom, you’re the best!)
   Oh! The best thing about having a fridge is- drumroll, please- I was finally able to open the BEST JAM IN THE WORLD. Literally. I’m not not obsessed with jam or anything, but I could eat this n out of the jar with a spoon. Greatest thing on earth. Which brings me to my next point:

6. So many people here eat local or organic, or try to as best they can. I love it. Last night in the Greenery we had some lettuce that was grown on the campus farm and you really could taste the difference. It’s awesome how much there is around here that allows a person to change their lifestyle (and in my opinion, for the better). I guess because there’s so much life and the opportunity is available; it’s inspiring. Two of my when-I’m-financially-responsible goals are 1) get a dog, and 2) be vegan, and it seems like it would be a little easier out here with so many options.
   

7. Hair. Oh, hair. This may the weirdest phrase I’ve said in a while, but hair here is so good! Since I’ve been here I’ve done two different things to my hair. The first was “dip-dying” which is basically where you, uh, dip dye your hair, I guess. I just took a few little strands from my curls and dipped them into some blue. Also, I now have a very pretty hair wrap, which has a gold little bead on it! (Courtesy of Rachel Holler, thank you very much!) I love it. There are other little things I still want to do, but we’ll see.
   

8. Dancing. The last two weekends I’ve totally let my hair down and danced the night away. Last Friday was the Art Walk, which is a lot like First Friday. There were giant art pieces and lots of music and tons of people walking around the streets downtown. My group of friends found this exquisite place to dance and, man, I can’t even explain it. We got groovy! Hahaha. Everyone there just let loose an had a good time. There were no cliquey circles of friends that just danced with each other. There wasn’t any Jersey Shore bumping and grinding. It was just feel-good, move your body dancing. And if that’s not cool enough, we found another great dance spot right after which was a little less crowded but the energy was just as high! I really enjoyed myself. It’s a great feeling to not worry about what I’m wearing or if I’m a good dancer, but to just let out some stresses and energy of the week with friends. The same thing happened last night an it’s all just very mind-opening for me.
   
   That was a sign that we found outside of the second hot dance spot last weekend. Hahaha!

9. Trees, tree climbing, tree houses. I’ve always had a love for trees (Dear Dad, I wonder who I get that from…? hah.) and being out here has magnified that. The first night I was on campus and we went on that night hike through the forest to the beach? Yeah, I was a little freaked out about what might live up in the trees. Or, on the trees. But now I’ve calmed down a lot since then and I have no problem climbing up into a tree or running through shoulder-high ferns. The trees and plant life are all beautiful.
   
   
   

10. My program. My program is very self motivated and if I don’t decided to move and do something then my education doesn’t move either. It’s… a little stressful and a bit overwhelming, I’ll admit. But it’s also really exciting. The cool part about that is that when I’m just jamming with friends, hitting old nails found in the tree house on the edge of a candle that’s giving us light, that’s learning for me! That’s making music with other musicians and exploring my voice and abilities. It’s networking, in a sense. And we have talked of recording soon, so that’s really exciting. Also, I have a friend who’s wiling to help me out and share some of his knowledge on recording with me! So I’m super stoked on that!
    
    

Okay, I can’t do anymore listing. There’s just so much that’s happened and always happening. I’m still meeting amazing people and finding connections with them. I still love this place, and whenever anyone asks me how it is I say the same thing: I’ve never been happier. I mean, don’t get me wrong, AZ, you’re my home and I had an amazing life there and I love my life that still resides there. No doubt. But this place has brought out a happiness in me that I never knew. I feel so comfortable an secure here. I’ve met a group of people that I already love and care about. I laugh constantly, I try new things, and during this last week I finally made personal, mental peace with a person that will always be apart of my past life in Arizona. And it’s so relieving! I’ve even begun to think of my tiny, miniature dorm room as my little house. (It’s getting cozy! And it’s always warm which is a relief on nights like last night when I came back freezing!)

Things here are just very good. Last night I rode a bike at two am. I’ve painted a picture on the back of a show poster. I’ve run real errands and used my money for things that I actually need. I've done laundry and cooked myself a meal and I keep my room clean. I eat friends’ homemade apple pie and go to comic book shops. Oh! I joined an improv club and I think I may also join stand-up. (Never pictured that, eh? Apparently I’m comical or something! Blame Court!) And now I think I’ll actually start my day and be active. Maybe I’ll finally get dressed…? Miss you, AZ. And I really miss everyone that’s hanging out on your desert ground. I send my love!
-Emily.

PS. Still don’t know what I want for my birthday. Yikes. Will ponder this.