I climb trees too.

I would also like to say that tomorrow I am giving my homecoming talk. How does one possibly sum up the most amazing time of his or her life in 20 minutes? It has been only 3.5 weeks, but it already feels like 3.5 years. Or like it never happened. Or like tomorrow I'm going back to St. Louis.

I don't know.

Remember that time we went to the McCords to help them pick cherries off their cherry tree? It was May. Sister Anderson shimmied down those branches like a ninja. I didn't know she could move like that.

I got sick off eating all those cherries.

Typical.

Rarely have I felt so normal.

When I started my mission, I struggled to find what was normal for me. I discovered that my worldly definitions of myself--my clothes, my music, my interests--were useless as a missionary. Suddenly I was stripped of everything familiar. Everything me. I based my identity in the base things of the world, things that have no value if they are gone.

I grew a lot. I learned who I am spiritually. I became me, who I truly am.

Ironically, I am experiencing something similar to what I did as a greenie. I am stripped of 24/7 spiritual saturation. Before I struggled to know myself without those comfortable worldly influences; now I'm struggling to define myself by those former companions. Do I really like vinyl? Yes. Does this outfit look okay? Why not. Do I care? No.

I can't even write worth a darn anymore. I don't care about that either.

Every RM goes through this identity crisis. Tips are appreciated.

What I have to look forward to

As far as I can tell, being an empty nester consists of the following:

1. Go out to eat. A lot.
2. When you do cook, eat leftovers most nights of the week.
3. Watch TV in separate rooms, on separate TVs, in separate easychairs, with a dog on your lap. Then fall asleep before you watch anything.
4. Aimlessly walk around Costco at least once a week.
5. Spend money on toys: Vespa scooters, Apple products, miscellaneous electronics.

I can judiciously say that after chillin' with my parents for the past week, they have a cushy life. I can't wait until I'm old.

I'll be in Utah starting Monday, so I'd better see ya!

Heavy metal machines

I went to a seminar with my dad last night. One of the foremost researchers on metal poisoning spoke. Basically, don't put any metal into your body, EVER! There is some evidence that metal (amalgams, or fillings, especially) can cause breast cancer. Metals also cause autoimmune diseases. I met a lady last night who had full-blown multiple sclerosis and was near death. This researcher lady, Vera, met with her, "demetaled" her, and her MS went away.

One of the most shocking things to me was the presence of titanium in so much of what we eat. Titanium is known to cause depression, and guess what's in anti-depressants? Titanium dixoide! It's also in many of our toothpastes, shampoos, makeup, even high fructose corn syrup! Don't even get me started on mercury and its presence in so much of what we eat.

I am thinking of a Masters in Social Work. Maybe.

I should have a cell phone today, but no promises. I do promise, however, that I love you!

Where am I?

I loved puzzles as a child. I loved big puzzles, 1000 pieces. Those big puzzles become unoriginal in shape after a time. Finding the right match can be difficult; two pieces may look like they fit, but they really don't.

That's kind of how I feel right now. I may look like I fit, but I really don't. But I'll get over it.

I'm coming to Utah on November 16. Maybe I'll see you then.

For the record, being a missionary is the best ever. Who knew a little piece of plastic could mean so much.