old friends in a new city

We've been in Arlington for over a week now but we're still working on making this place our home. I called the moving company today and it doesn't sound like they're in a big hurry to make it this far east so I'm not expecting our furniture, etc. anytime soon. We also don't have internet yet so I'm a new member of the Arlington public library and using the free wifi.

Believe it or not, we've been quite the social butterflies since we've been here. Friends from Denver, Pittsburgh and Graceland have been around so we've all been exploring the city together. This has been great way to "transition" into a new place. Old friends guiding us into a new city...it's poetic in some ways.

Last night we went on a cheap date. We made a salad and ate frozen dinners at home then we went to Gravelly Point Park -- a park right next to the Ronald Raegan Airport. We watched airplanes land just a few feet away from us after they rushed over our heads. It was quite the thrill...but I had ambiguous feelings while plugged my ears and looked up to the nearer-than-ever belly of a plane. Money, pollution, the fast paced life that so many Americans live are in someways symbolized by those planes. And yet, I use them all the time. They've sent me all over the world, helped me meet the most interesting people, experience some things that I otherwise would never experience, not to mention allow me to see my parents for Christmas. Ahh....complexity of values and morals makes life interesting doesn't it?

Speaking of (not complex moral making but friends it takes a big long plane trip to see,) tonight Jeff and I will be visiting Lackings Banda, our friend from Malawi. He and his family hosted Jeff during his World Service Corps stint as well as a week or two on our second trip to Malawi. He's one of our favorite people in the world and he just happens to be in Virginia this weekend.