What Joy of Joys!

Beauty of beauties! Ah the city and feeling alive in it for the first time since I have arrived. Feeling so much a part of the wonder of it all. Of the awe-inspiring, breathless beauty of God. Loving these moments in a way I have never felt, save for on stage and in love with JT.

And in such a different way. Solitary and stronger than I knew I was! Seeing shifts occur in me. Becoming more independent and yet more dependent and trusting of Him. Being brought to tears. Appreciation the ease of conversations and the challenge of a new tongue. Appreciating finding wonderful little nooks in crannies inside of this huge, daunting world. Walking down the streets, looking up. Surrounded.

Last night, the punk concert, rocking out and nearly moshing. Laura's sister on the keyboard, bring the keys to life with a pursed look of determined self-assuredness that I envy in most Spanish women I see... The goofiness of the night, the abandon. Soberly enjoying -- vividness and youth!

And then today. Walking to Placa Espanya. Seeing Barcelona for the first time. The strength. Her beauty. Her uniqueness. The Caixa Forum. Maternitats. Women in shambles, holding together themselves, then:

"this is a series which has shown me that, evn in the most terrible situations, there always exists something higher than us, something whose beauty can move us."

Being shaken by those words, having them come alive. Feeling them around me and inside me.

Does that make sense?

And then onto women in another way: Alphonse Mucha. How beautiful! How stunning! How intricate! How ethereal!

The represenation and obssesion with grace. Drawing away with crowns with two new friends. Moved again! Unbelievably shaken and light...

Then grace and god, oddly seeing less divine in these than the other too, but lovely nonetheless.

Still tasting Bali Tea (I only wanted to taste rose petals, to say I had tasted them -- who new that vanilla, black tea and rose petals could taste like heaven!) And salmon. Splurging a bit because the exhibit was free, and because I wanted to taste rose petals, as I have said and explained previously.

Conversations and heart to hearts. Finding a place where I don't feel awkward. Determined to explore more gems of Barcelona like this!

Walking to Canuda. Asking for directions. Watching the debates. Registering to vote a third time. Engaged and alive. In Barcelona (One of Zapatero's cities, Dear McCain...). Twenty! Gearing up for my first vote. The world at my fingertips. Bending its self towards me with welcoming open arms.

Fantastic.

And shouts from outside, navigating the metro seamlessly. Conversing along the way -- in castalleno. In english.

And little cats who are too scared to come close, but who you extend food to anyway. Leaving it a safe distance away...Their decision.

In love. With all of this. With my youth. With You. With you. With life. And beauty. And friendships. And crayons. And sunny days with a cool breeze. And democrats abroad who still love their country so.

What Joy of Joys!