That's right you're not from Texas, but Texas wants you anyway....

I've been having the best time here in Austin, and Texas as a whole. I'm so happy to be around my cousin, who is like a big brother to me. He and his amazing wife and 3 lovely kids are always such a blessing and a comfort to me. He finally got to come home after nearly 2 weeks in the hospital. There was much rejoicing. Home is wonderfully healing medicine compared to a hospital room. I've finally gotten to meet my new little cousins. I think it may take a few trips for them to know me, but for now I'm just pleased as I can be to be around them and to love on them.

I've also gotten to visit with some very good friends here in Austin. Last night I had a wonderful time at the Melting Pot with 2 very dear friends, and we even had a violin solo played just for our table!

What great people, they always inspire me and challenge me to do my best at everything while still just being wonderful fun to hang out with. You all are so cute together, you made me think about how much I miss being around V. And yes, someday it would be nice to call Austin home and see you all more than just a dinner passing through. Right now it's a growth opportunity for me to live in Australia and I need to wake up and take greater advantage of it if I can. But thank you for making me feel so at home here and for keeping in touch over the years. And the offer still stands if you can make your way to Australia, you've got a place to stay and a tour guide at your service.

Tonight I just drove back from meeting up at Starbucks/dinner with another very dear friend, who will probably laugh at me when he reads this, but who seems to really have grown since college. He's always been a fantastic and interesting person, but he's only gotten deeper and even more caring over the years. It's been a long time since he threw my books into the hall when the teacher wasn't looking. (And there may have been some retribution in the form of a baby picture.. but it wasn't me! :) ) Now the guy who sat and doodled through Calculus is a math teacher -oh the irony. But he's a wonderful person and I'm so grateful he took time out to visit.

Makes me wonder if I've changed very much since college. It doesn't feel like it, even despite all the momentus events in my life -a doctorate, marriage, living on a new continent -I still feel like I was just in college yesterday and I'm still a kid. Maybe that's because I just left grad school last year so I really have mostly been in school and not 'the real world' very much yet. Maybe it's just easier to see when I look at other people. Being around my friends now, it's like somehow they're like adults now. People with kids! Owning houses! Years at jobs and work! It all happens so fast and when you're not looking.

Seeing all these old friends has brought back lots of fond college memories. Those were some great years because of the great people I was surrounded by. I'm looking forward to seeing more friends and reminiscing about more stories tomorrow night as well.

I'm so lucky to know so many thoughtful and gifted people who really make other people a priority in their lives. I'm treasuring these moments as best I can, soaking them up. On a bad day, I want to be able to remember sitting in front of the speakers with my cousin listening to amazingly clear music with nuances and soul. I want to treasure the laughter of my friends and the happiness in their eyes. I want to 'feel' hugs from my family.

If only I could transport my new Australia friends, and maybe a bit of the beach, to Austin..... But I'm leaving on a Jet plane, don't know when I'll be back again. Listening to that song today -I don't know of my cousin, a John Denver fan, knew how much that song really hits home with me right now in my life. It still feels like I just arrived in the states yesterday, but I have to fly out again in one week already. Shortest month-long vacation ever.