Whoah.

"CATEGORY 32, BEST ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT WRITING FEATURE
1st Place - Class C
PROJECT WITH PASSION BY LISA A "

I wrote this story about a kid who fixed up a 1927 theater organ over the summer when the schools beat was reeeeaaaallly slow, and it ran as the cover of the B section with photos I took myself (that rarely happens, but the photog I asked for didn't show and my photos miraculously turned out great -- after much manipulation with the settings on my camera and the lighting in his living room).

And I won an award. I don't even know what to think.

The unexpected makes me cry

I came into work this morning and an e-mail sitting in my inbox slapped me across the face with the news that one of the trustees in the township I used to cover died last night.



...



Wait, what?



...



Then tears.

I think I'm on the edge of something new with you

Gym pass and keys to my new apartment. Tonight's my last night at home, folks. Assuming I actually buy a bed and have it delivered by tomorrow ...

Make me think that maybe I won't die alone

Well, 2008, you have a lot of tricks up your sleeve, don't you? Think I sniffed out a few of them when you flashed your hand earlier today, but I'm sure you've got TONS left, right?

Let us hope you don't include the following:
-Making my parents disappointed in me
-Hating who I am
-Moving farther away from the person I want to be
-Completely screwing up my life

Let us pray that you do include the following:
-Good friends who are always there for you, no matter what
-Figuring out who I am and who I want to be
-Feeling my way through life's darkness in the general direction of that goal
-Unconditional love (Thanks, God, for at least this one guarantee. I promise to try to not treat you solely as a safety net)

2008, because I know that growth and learning never come without heartache, it's OK if you come with a little of that, but I really really really hope that's the exception rather than the rule. Because after 2007, I'm not sure how much more I can handle.

Thanks,

Me