BACK!!! (and with news)
09/14/2008 03:42 a.m.

Wow. What an amazing week it's been. Breitenbush and the folks who were attending service week with us....OMG. I didn't realize the "crew" is limited to 28 people, and it makes for a very intimate little group. You sign up to work for the different branches of service, and get to meet everyone. We did this "name game" on the morning of the first talking circle, saying your own name, and one thing about you that no one there would know, and then repeating all the names of the people who went before, AND THEN introducing the person to your left...and it worked!!!

And I DID go to the hot springs and get neked. Hehe. Well, I cheated because I went only at night, but you could still tell.

All I can really say is that I felt safe; and accepted exactly as I am. And loved.

The food was delicious, and vital!!! All fresh, all vegetarian, all made with caring hands, and you could tell. I didn't get sleepy at all after any meal there. I hated to go back out into the "real" world. The food out here is just dead in comparison.

We worked two 2hr shifts a day, WAAAAAAAY more work than I do at home, and SO much walking. I've lost 15lbs just from this week!! :-)

On Thursday, at the closing circle, everyone shared and cried and we all exchanged addresses etc.

I can't wait to post some pics.

After Breitenbush, Miah and I had to re-acclimate ourselves to the harshness of the "real" world - retail and tourism and seeming mindlessness. We went to Newport on the coast. At first, we were going to camp, but it just didn't feel private enough there at the state park to debrief and unwind. So we found an affordable hotel and chilled. It was difficult, but we managed.

And then, the BEST part of the weekend....completely unexpected. This morning we went to a little half-cove - beautiful sand there and pristine surf. It was kind of chilly - about 57 degrees - and a bit windy. Miah found where a huge pile of driftwood had washed onto the shore, and someone had taken a bunch of it and made a wind-break. We sat there just soaking up some sun, and holding hands, and talking. Eventually, Miah started talking about "us", and he looked deeply into my eyes and said, "Ali, I do want you to know that I do want us to be married." And, like always, inside my own self, I silently sighed, knowing what he meant and not getting my hopes up since he never progressed beyond that statement.

This morning was different. He went on to say, "So, it's probably a good time for me to ask, isn't it?"

And maybe because I'd geared myself to let go of the expectation over and over again, I didn't catch on right away; didn't realize what was about to happen.

"Will you marry me?"

In my shock, my response was, "Oh my god, you're asking? I mean, right here, right now, you're actually asking that question????"

And before I could answer properly, I was hugging him and laughing and crying at the same time, and so was he.

After I could wrap my mind around what was happening, I told him "yes," and we proceeded to laugh and cry and laugh some more, until finally, we decided the best way to celebrate the moment was just to take the plunge into the frigid waters of the pacific ocean, and so we did (just like we've been jumping into the frigid waters of our wonderfully challenging relationship for the year and a half).

A bright, yellow butterfly braved those winds to remind us of new beginnings.
*happy, happy sigh*




I am currently Awestruck
I am listening to my heart beat out the rhythm of being Miah's fiance!