Saturday evening post refined

I am watching an Inconvenient Truth - wow! Fuck man, what are we doing?

It makes me realize what an amazing time we live in. The way one man can communicate to millions in such a powerful way about something which is obviously true and so obviously important.

There is so much to learn about this world. Right now I feel like I am doing a lot of learning.

It's interesting. While I am taking in a lot of information I am not necessarily out their spouting out what I am learning. Like what I feel like I know about others. I could probably describe to you a full and varied personality and behavior description of most of the people I know. And, it would be fairly accurate if followed through by a detailed anthropological observation. But I don't go out there spouting about it because I know it and it's enough that I know it and it's important I know it and I will act based on the knowledge. But I don't need to be dramatic about it or worry if other people know about it. It's enough I know what I know.

There is a lot I am learning about right now. I am leaning about my career, about relationships and people and trends and the way the world works and I really enjoy myself. I like learning; its a lot of fun. And I know it will help me some day too.

I am learning a lot about my field, through my classes, which I like a lot this semester, and through the work I am doing, asking people to give $10,000 - it's quite a high when they say yes and an even greater high when you earn their respect.

I have had some great contacts with donors over the last couple of weeks. I am building one-on-one relationships with people, nice people by the way, for United Way, in a way that fulfills me personally and is getting more money to United Way, What a wonderful experience.

I have learned so much through United Way during my four and a half year tenure. I am not sure what the next several years will bring but I feel like I am putting myself in position to be successful with VSUW, which is what I hope, or another nonprofit or another United Way in a different city. There is something addictive about working at United Way. It is respected by business and community elites and in the middle of so much of what happens in our community. Plus, United Way has treated me well and they seem to like me too. I think about that when I think about possibly moving to another city.

Overall, though, I don't think about moving as much. I am settling in here and with time appreciating the Phoenix Metro area even more. It's not ideal, but nothing is - anywhere we live will have pros and cons. I think I like Phoenix because it seems to be heading in a good direction. There are smart community leaders who want to make Phoenix a first class city in ways I hope match my and Beth's values. And, I am beginning to establish myself within the community. It is a slow seed, but I think there will be good seeds to sew hear in the Valley. I know I can't be sure, but I have a good feeling we will be here for a while. And it seems like a good thing.

And even if we end up moving I can't really worry about that until it arrives (or we depart I guess =) Part of where I am in life right now is about having my head down, working hard on learning, practicing steadiness and stability, and tackling life as it comes. The future will get here when it gets here and bring with it things I cannot plan for. In the meantime, I am doing what I am doing because it's what I want to be doing right now.

There is something important in all this about doing it with my head down. I just don't feel as "out there" as much and I think it's a good thing.

When I do think I about the future I think there are lots of good things coming our way. I get nervous saying that, because I don't want jinx myself or Beth, or Omar, but I have a feeling good things are coming our way. I hope Omar is one of them. Oh, what a wonderful gift he will be. And I hope we are a gift to him as well.

On a sidenote: I know we will grow our family through adoption, I cannot pass up the 13 year old boy who just wants a home. But that is a subject for another time.

This period of learning and stability has been building over the last couple of weeks, since and even before Burning Man. I am learning from experience and relationships; learning from formal education and classmate conversation; learning from raising money for the organization I love; learning through soaking in the extras like NPR (I LOVE WAIT WAIT DON"T TELL ME and DIANE RHEM and FRESH AIR and so many more!!!), like Burning Man (still talking about soaking in learning here), like reading the Chronicle of Philanthropy and going to ACF Lunches. So many things to soak in about this world!

Where was I, oh yeah, I think I was talking about stability. It is an amazing thing for me. A real gift. Part of it comes from my relationship with Beth. Our love has grown through many experiences, many conversations and lots of change. Lots of cuddling too. True love for us is demonstrated through snuggling. Life really is much more simple than we make it.

What more can I say - she is one of the most wonderful people you will ever meet. I promise you that. We have loved each other for almost 10 years - our love is a fairy tail. In two weeks we celebrate five years of marriage. What a fun time it's been. Beth is pure gold, my rocket dog and viking angel.

I think we have a solid relationship and are both settling into life. It seems we are ready to be parents, ready for each of us to grow in some new powerful way. We are both focused on bringing happiness to Omar, our hoped for child.

I am building. With Beth as my construction partner and full time design consultant, we are building a wonderful life. Already it has brought an abundance of blessings. I can only hope for a lifetime more.