you got to be somewhere.

Even if it is being stuck at the airport for 7 hours;
or on a boat in the rain;
or on an island in the Caribbean.

Here is a little bit about one of my favorite persons in this world.

Tyler and Sarah

I heard the expression last weekend while attending my dear friends Sarah and Tyler's wedding in Maryland.  Her dad made a small speech during their lovely Quaker wedding ceremony about the origin of this expression, and how Sarah had used it since then.  He said that  he first heard it decades ago while stuck on a boat in the rain that he knew that it was profound.  But he didn't really know what it meant at the time.  He just knew that it was profound.  He said it often to his family, and now it's in the family. 

When Sarah was in the Dominican Republic for several years, at times she probably felt that time went by really slowly.  She was working with HIV patients, specifically mothers and their children that were infected.  It was difficult and emotional work.  Then something happened.  She met Tyler while working at the hospital.  It changed her life.

She sent her parents a postcard with a photo of Tyler and her, and at the back it just said, "You got to be somewhere."
When her parents saw that post card, they knew right away what it meant.

After the wedding, a bunch of us were stuck at BWI for 6-7 hours due to really bad storms.  Even the bride and groom were there, as they are heading up to Acadia for their honeymoon.  It was great to be able to hang out with them again, and time passed by relatively quickly at the airport as we read through every single magazine we owned and played crossword puzzles as a group.  Then the flight got delayed again, and then again..  We were all somewhat frustrated.  But then Sarah turned around and gave me a big smile and said, "you got to be somewhere!"

Always the optimist, Sarah.  Always willing give it all, no matter how many obstacles may be in front of you.  Always willing to give second chances because you believe that it will get better.  Always with a purpose.  That's what makes you so special.  My true inspiration.  Love you!

Her dad baked 10 pecan pies! 

Fresh tomatoes from the local farm